Gemotions

He felt the familiar burn creep up his neck as he saw the email notification pop up. It was from HR, detailing the salary adjustments for the new fiscal year. His stomach flipped. He’d meticulously crafted a budget for the month, factoring in the usual bills and expenses.

Later, he found himself avoiding eye contact with the younger man, Mark, in the elevator. Usually, they chatted about football, but today, he feigned intense interest in the floor numbers. The silence hung heavy, filled with an unspoken tension. He felt a profound sense of awkwardness settle over him.

Back at his desk, he slammed his fist on the desk. He felt a suffocating pressure in his chest. Later that day, he snapped at his wife when she asked about his day, the words sharp and uncharacteristic.