Gemotions

The office seemed to shrink around David. His mentor, Ms. Evans, always said the office was too large, impersonal. Now, it swallowed him whole. The empty desk, stripped of all personal items, offered no solace. The only reminder of her was an expired sticky note, a gentle admonishment, still clinging to the monitor.

He avoided the water cooler, the social hub where she'd always had time for a chat. He found himself avoiding his colleagues. He felt a deep, pervasive heat rise up in his neck. He worked through his lunch hour, lost in the monotonous task of data entry.

He replayed their last conversation. He cringed at his own arrogance. He'd been too busy, too focused on his own advancement. He felt a sudden, sharp pang in his chest.