Gemotions

The world felt crisp and clear to Daniel. He’d woken up feeling energized, his favorite breakfast waiting for him, and the commute was unusually smooth. He strode into the office, whistling a jaunty tune, the prospect of a productive day filling him with glee.

He saw Kevin, the recent college graduate, at the coffee machine. "Morning, Kevin! How's it going?" Daniel beamed.

"Alright," Kevin replied, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Just got my pay stub."

Daniel's smile widened. He was always eager to connect with his colleagues, mentor them, and share his knowledge. "Great! Anything exciting?"

Kevin hesitated. "Yeah, actually. I got a salary increase."

Daniel's shoulders slumped. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes. He fumbled for a sugar packet. "Oh, that's… good." He couldn’t quite meet Kevin's gaze, suddenly preoccupied with pouring his coffee. The sweetness of the syrup seemed to evaporate.