Gemotions

The air left Daniel’s lungs in a whoosh. He’d been in the break room, grabbing a coffee, and overheard a conversation. The junior copywriter, fresh out of college, was boasting about her bonus. He felt his hands begin to sweat. He made less than she did, after being here for ages.

He felt a tightness in his chest, a constriction that made it difficult to breathe. He took a few deep, unsteady breaths. He needed to get out of the break room, away from the casual chatter. He needed air. He felt like he'd been punched.

He quietly retreated to his desk.