Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the IT department hummed, a familiar and predictable sound. Arthur carefully packed his stapler, his favorite pen, and a small photo of his cat, Mittens, into a box. He'd been expecting the transfer to marketing for weeks, and the anticipation had worn off, replaced by a sense of...settledness. He made a mental note to water the office plant one last time before he left.

The walk down the hall was uneventful. He greeted each person he passed with a gentle nod, the corners of his mouth barely twitching in a half-smile. He found his new desk, already set up with a welcome package of branded pens and a sleek new laptop. He sat down and took a deep breath, the scent of fresh paper and plastic filling his nostrils.

He unpacked his things with deliberate care, arranging them just so. He clicked the photo of Mittens into place. Then, he looked at his new computer. He smiled.