Gemotions

The news arrived in a flurry of whispers and hasty emails. Professor Ito, gone. For Maya, the world tilted. She kept rubbing her arms. Her research, her passion, felt threatened.

She immediately emailed the chair of the department. She requested an urgent meeting. She needed information. She required reassurance.

She stayed late in the library, poring over books and articles. She took copious notes, summarizing everything, outlining everything. She felt like she had to know every detail about her project, and every possible aspect of his departure.

She found herself constantly checking her email, her phone. She would not allow herself to be caught unaware. She checked her work, every note, every observation. The need for control was a physical ache.