Gemotions

A bead of sweat trickled down Leo’s temple as he walked towards Professor Ramirez’s office. He’d seen the announcement plastered on the department bulletin board: "Dr. Ramirez to accept a position elsewhere." His knees felt weak. He’d envisioned working alongside her for years, building a career, becoming something.

He knocked, the sound loud in his ears. The door swung open, and he saw Professor Ramirez looking, strangely, serene. "Leo, come in," she said, her voice smooth, but Leo heard a tremor of something underneath. He sat down, avoiding her gaze. His hands fidgeted in his lap.

"I... I saw the announcement," he managed, his voice barely a whisper. He picked at a loose thread on his jeans. A suffocating feeling pressed down on him, and he wished he could disappear. He wondered how he would possibly navigate the next year, let alone write a whole thesis.