Gemotions

The email landed with a thud in his inbox, the digital equivalent of a dropped anvil. He reread it three times, each pass bringing a fresh wave of… something. His breath hitched, a small, involuntary gasp. The subject line, "Promotion Opportunity - Senior Analyst," felt less like an invitation and more like a cruel joke. He and Sarah? Sarah who’d only been at the company for eighteen months?

He swiveled in his chair, the squeak of the casters echoing in the sudden quiet of the office. His eyes darted around, as if seeking confirmation that the building hadn't shifted on its foundations. He felt a weird pressure in his chest, like a balloon slowly inflating. The thought of Sarah, with her bubbly optimism and effortless charm, getting the nod before him… it was simply not believable.

He needed air. He rose abruptly, knocking over his half-empty water bottle. Water pooled on the desk, a tiny, insignificant disaster. He didn’t bother to clean it up. He just needed to walk.