Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant reminder of the day's events. Sarah slammed her stapler onto her desk, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet room. She’d overheard a hushed conversation at the water cooler, a casual boast from the new intern, David, about his salary. He, fresh out of college, was making more than she, with her seven years of experience.

A tightness constricted her chest. The spreadsheets she was staring at blurred, the numbers dancing mockingly before her eyes. She felt a familiar burn in the back of her throat, a sensation she had come to associate with simmering resentment. She picked up her pen, then threw it back down. Useless.

She spent the afternoon meticulously reviewing her expense reports, a task she usually completed in minutes. Each line item, each petty cash transaction, became a focus of intense scrutiny. The details filled her thoughts as she tried to distract herself.