Gemotions

The announcement had been made. Sarah got the promotion. Mark, her colleague, was visibly deflated. They had both worked tirelessly, the pressure mounting with each passing week. The tension in the office was palpable. Sarah knew Mark's drive, the sacrifices he’d made, his dedication to the company.

Later, she saw him walking to the break room, his shoulders slumped. She followed, a feeling of unease settling in her stomach.

She found him standing by the coffee machine, avoiding eye contact. “Mark,” she said quietly, her voice gentle. "I wanted to say, I know you put in a lot of effort. You were amazing on the Jupiter project, and you deserve a lot of credit."

He looked up, his face etched with fatigue. He nodded slowly, then offered a small, forced smile. "Thanks, Sarah. I appreciate that."