Gemotions

David stared at the document on his screen. It was a formal press release, the language cold and detached. He kept scrolling up, down, as though the truth might somehow change. He hadn't received a heads up. This had come like a bolt from the blue. His pulse quickened, a rapid staccato against his ribs.

His jaw tightened. He swiveled in his chair, gazing out the window at the city sprawling beneath him. He'd put in seven years at this place. Seven years! He imagined the chaos to come, the uncertainty, the fear. He felt a wave of cold wash over him, leaving him shaky. He thought about his mortgage, his two kids, and his wife's part-time job.

He slammed his fist on the desk, the impact reverberating through the wood. He grabbed his phone and called his wife. His voice was a strained whisper.