Gemotions

"I've accepted a position elsewhere," Professor Davies had said, his voice clipped. The words echoed in Emily's mind. She’d spent three years refining her ideas, shaping them in accordance with Davies’ critiques. The thought of starting anew was unbearable.

She sat in the library, staring at her laptop screen, the cursor blinking mockingly. She felt a wave of dizziness, her stomach twisting into knots. The familiar library, the comforting smell of old books, suddenly felt alien, the hushed whispers of her peers jarring.

She closed the laptop lid with a snap, the sound reverberating in the quiet space. The pressure was immense, a heavy weight pressing down on her chest.

She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor, drawing unwanted attention. She needed to escape.