Gemotions

The email landed with a thud in Amelia's inbox, like a brick. She reread the subject line: "Important Announcement Regarding the Future of [Company Name]." Her breath hitched. She'd just finished making her coffee, a double shot, and now the familiar aroma seemed to clog her nostrils. She clicked it open, her fingers trembling. The words blurred before her eyes, but the general gist became clear: a sale. A sudden, unexpected sale. Amelia's hand flew up to her mouth.

She leaned back in her chair, the cheap plastic creaking. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed, a sound she'd never noticed before. The office, usually a hive of low-level chatter, seemed to fall silent. She felt a prickling sensation across her scalp. What now?

The phone on her desk rang, a jarring sound. It was her friend, Sarah, from accounting. "Did you see the email?" Sarah's voice was tight, a mirror of Amelia’s own internal tension. "I just… I can’t believe it."