Gemotions

He watched the new recruit, Jessica, follow his movements. The younger woman's presence in his domain generated a disquiet he couldn't name. He’d dedicated ten years of his life to this job, the intricate details of the manufacturing process were etched in his memory. Now, it was being transferred to someone else.

His palms were damp as he showed her the calibration of the machines. The rhythmic clack of the machinery felt amplified, each sound a reminder of his own impending redundancy. He felt a rising pressure in his head, a kind of internal protest.

He found himself subtly emphasizing his expertise, pointing out the subtle cues of the machines. His tone was sharp when he corrected Jessica's mistakes. He didn't want to make her look bad, but he also didn’t want to look dispensable. He felt like a dwindling flame, desperate to maintain its glow.