Gemotions

The email had been a curt, impersonal message. "Please familiarize Ms. Chen with your responsibilities. Her start date is Monday." Sarah, her fingers icy, reread it. This was the end. After all these years.

She felt a coldness creeping up her spine as she walked to her desk. The office felt colder than usual. She barely acknowledged Ms. Chen as the woman approached her desk.

During the training, Sarah found herself strangely detached, moving through the motions of her explanations. Her voice sounded flat, devoid of emotion. She was acutely aware of every detail: the way Ms. Chen held her pen, the scent of her perfume, the casual confidence in her posture. Each moment was a step toward her own obsolescence, and it chilled her.