Gemotions

The coffee tasted like tar, bitter and acrid. She swallowed it down, the burning sensation in her throat doing little to soothe the tightness in her chest. The HR department had smiled at her, bright and falsely empathetic, when they announced the new hire. They’d called it a "fantastic opportunity." A fantastic opportunity to be replaced, she thought.

She gestured towards the filing cabinets, a movement jerky and uncontrolled. The new hire mirrored her movements, his actions precise, almost mocking. Each file felt like a knife twisting in her gut. She hated that she had to teach him everything. She hated that he was probably younger and more efficient.

She took a deep, shaky breath. "Okay, let's start with the invoices," she said, her voice flat. She could feel a headache building behind her eyes. He was too eager. Too cheerful. Too much.