Gemotions

The office felt too quiet. A hush had fallen over the usual clatter of keyboards and ringing phones. Sarah usually heard Mr. Henderson's booming laugh echoing from his corner office, but today, silence. She approached his door, her knuckles brushing the cold wood. No response. Hesitantly, she pushed it open. Empty. His desk, usually a controlled chaos of papers and half-eaten sandwiches, was pristine. A single, untouched orchid sat on a polished surface, a stark contrast to the usual disarray. Her stomach dropped. Where was he?

She raced to the HR department, her heels clicking a frantic rhythm on the tile floor. "Mr. Henderson? He's... he's not here today, is he?" The HR representative, a young woman with perfectly coiffed hair, looked up from her computer, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Actually, Ms. Miller, Mr. Henderson retired. Effective yesterday. Didn't you get the email?" Sarah’s breath hitched. Email? She hadn't seen anything. A cold wave washed over her, and she felt a tremor in her hands.