Gemotions

He slammed his locker shut, the metal door reverberating through the empty hallway. The information, casually dropped by a coworker, felt like a physical blow. The new associate's salary was higher than his.

He had expected a promotion, a raise. Instead, it seemed the company valued him less than someone new. He stood there, frozen.

His hands clenched into fists, the nails digging into his palms. He felt a burning sensation behind his eyes. He quickly blinked to stop the sting, a tear threatening to spill. The weight of the situation felt immense, crushing him under its unspoken implications. He had to get out, to breathe.