Gemotions

It was the quiet that got to him. When the office cleared for the day, and David was the only one left, the silence was suffocating. He’d learned about Sam’s salary at the end of the day. He felt frozen.

He replayed the events of the day in his mind, the casual comments about “the new hire.” The polite smiles, the unsaid expectations. He rubbed his arms, suddenly chilled. The room felt immense, the shadows lengthening.

He wanted to scream, to lash out. But he held it in. He carefully gathered his things, his movements robotic. He didn't want to show any weakness. He wanted to leave quickly, to escape the crushing weight.