Gemotions

He stared at the CEO's face on the all-hands video call, a smile plastered onto the screen. It felt phony, almost robotic. Michael had been with the company for fifteen years; he'd poured his heart into this place. Now, the words washed over him: "strategic alignment," "synergy," "new direction." He found himself unconsciously tracing the edge of his coffee cup with his finger, the ceramic feeling rough and unfamiliar. He knew, instinctively, this was a turning point. Everything felt… amplified. The hum of the server room across the hall seemed louder, the fluorescent lights brighter.