Gemotions

He stared, mouth agape, at the pay stub. David, the new intern, with his perpetually messy hair and boundless energy, was making more than he was. Mark couldn't breathe. The paper felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in his hand. He felt a weird, sinking feeling in his stomach.

The vending machine in the break room, usually a source of simple pleasure, suddenly loomed large and ominous. Mark, who knew the location of every snack within, couldn’t bring himself to reach for anything. He slumped against the wall, head bowed.

"Hey, Mark! You okay?" David’s voice, normally a friendly chirp, grated on his nerves. Mark blinked slowly. "Yeah, fine," he managed, his throat dry. He forced a smile that felt brittle. He didn't meet the intern's eyes.