Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant, irritating buzz that mirrored the one in Sarah’s head. She’d always been the diligent one, the reliable one, the one who stayed late and covered for everyone else. And for what? To be out-earned by fresh-faced, barely-out-of-college Ben?

She slammed the file cabinet shut, the metal door protesting with a jarring clang. Ben, meanwhile, was probably off at his fancy co-working space, sipping some overpriced coffee and discussing NFT's. The sheer injustice of it made her stomach churn.

"Just another day," she muttered under her breath, her jaw clenched. Then she forced a smile as Ben walked past, oblivious, and chirped a cheerful, "Morning, Sarah!" She managed a tight, forced, "Morning, Ben."