Gemotions

"So, Mark, what do you think of the news?" His boss’s voice sliced through the silence of the elevator. He found himself staring at the floor indicator, each passing level a painful reminder of his lack of advancement. He mumbled a polite response, his voice barely audible above the hum of the machinery. The door opened and he nearly sprinted out, feeling a flush creep up his neck.

He spent the rest of the day hunched over his computer, the glow of the screen reflecting in his vacant eyes. He skipped lunch, unable to face the inevitable congratulations he would receive. When his phone rang, he let it go to voicemail, the thought of social interaction exhausting. He felt like a failure.