Gemotions

It hit Jessica like a physical blow. She sat at her desk, the screen reflecting her wide, vacant eyes. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. Her mouth went dry. She could not process it.

She thought of the future she’d envisioned: climbing the corporate ladder, a steady career, and financial security. All of it seemed to vanish into thin air. She felt as though the ground had been swept out from beneath her feet. She began to breathe shallowly.

She stood up abruptly, knocking over her water bottle. The water spread across the desk, a silent, chaotic mess. She couldn’t stay there.