Gemotions

The coffee cup nearly slipped from Maya's grasp as she reread the email. "Effective Immediately: Retirement." That was it. No "thank you for your service," no "it's been a pleasure," just a cold, impersonal farewell from the man who had supposedly been grooming her for his position. She slammed the cup down on the desk, the ceramic ringing sharply in the otherwise quiet office. The air felt thick, difficult to breathe. This couldn't be happening, could it? After all this time, all those late nights, all the advice? Gone. Vanished.