Gemotions

The news settled over him like a dense fog, obscuring everything. He'd just overheard the conversation, hushed but undeniable, in the company kitchenette. Chris, the new hire in accounting, was talking about his paycheck. “It’s… really good,” he had said, laughing, before being interrupted. His salary was double what James made.

James, normally a social creature, retreated to his cubicle. The hum of the computer fan was the only sound now. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture clumsy and unfamiliar. He felt a profound disorientation, as if the very foundations of his understanding had shifted.

He opened his email. His own performance review was staring him in the face. It felt very, very distant.