Gemotions

David leaned against the doorway of the workshop, the smell of sawdust and varnish filling his nostrils, but doing nothing to calm his nerves. He'd been looking forward to his meeting with Master Jian all morning. His stomach felt like it was tied in knots. It was a gut-wrenching realization that he wouldn't be there to share his thoughts.

The workshop, typically a hive of activity, was eerily silent. The silence was unnerving. He had expected to see Master Jian, his hands stained with paint, his face etched with concentration. His absence, the empty space where he should have been, made David feel vulnerable, unsure of himself.

He clenched his fists. He had planned to discuss the new commissions, the techniques he was struggling with. He felt a deep sense of disorientation. The weight of his own future, of his own choices, suddenly felt immense, crushing.