Gemotions

The email arrived late at night, a digital dagger. “Moving on…” Professor Olsen’s words swam before Ethan’s eyes. He felt a sharp pang of disappointment, a deep ache in his chest.

He reread the message, the starkness of the text hitting him again. He was in shock. He felt a sudden, crippling sense of inadequacy. He felt as though he had failed.

He sat up in bed, the sheets tangled around his legs. The darkness of the room amplified his distress. He pulled his knees to his chest and stared at the ceiling, feeling lost, overwhelmed. He needed to be alone.

He felt a profound sense of isolation, the world outside his window receding into a distant hum.