Gemotions

The coffee cup trembled in Maria's hand, sloshing dark liquid onto the pristine white blouse she'd carefully chosen that morning. The spilled coffee felt like a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. She stared at the figures on her screen, the stark contrast between her own compensation and the newbie, Liam’s.

A chill ran down her spine, a prickling sensation that made her skin crawl. She dropped the cup, the ceramic shattering on the linoleum floor.

“Oh, damn it!” she exclaimed, her voice sounding strained, brittle. She bent to gather the shards, her hands shaking, her mind racing, a whirlwind of resentment and disbelief.