Gemotions

The familiar click of the door closing echoed in the empty apartment. Mark dropped his bag onto the floor, the thud resonating in the quiet. He had just read Dr. Evans's announcement. He wanted to scream. He had been pushing himself so hard, battling the endless demands of his thesis, his life reduced to a blur of research, writing, and revision.

The thought of going through the process again, of building a new relationship with someone new, felt utterly crushing. He wandered aimlessly to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. There was nothing there. He felt the weight of everything he still needed to do, pressing down on him. He felt like he could barely hold himself together. He leaned against the counter, suddenly overwhelmed. He felt depleted.