Gemotions

The air in the IT department felt heavy, thick with the scent of old servers and stale coffee. "So," Mark said to Sarah, his new team lead, his voice quiet. He watched her struggle to set up her computer. A small bead of sweat trickled down her temple. Her normally vibrant smile was strained. He knew that the transfer was hard on her, and he knew that she hadn't wanted it.

"Here, let me see if I can help you with that," Mark offered, approaching her desk. His hands were quick and his instructions were clear. She looked grateful.

He had felt the sting of a sudden shift himself before. "Don't worry," he told her softly. "We'll get you settled in." He stayed by her side for the next hour, troubleshooting and making sure she felt less like an outsider and more like a colleague.