Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a monotonous drone that matched the sound of Sarah's forced pleasantries with Mark. “Oh, that’s just *wonderful* news, Mark,” she’d chirped when he announced he was also a contender for the Senior Project Manager position. Her smile felt like a physical strain, a taut mask she desperately wanted to rip away.

She watched him now, leaning back in his chair, a picture of relaxed confidence, and a sudden heat surged through her. He was practically bouncing with self-importance, oblivious to the years she’d put in, the late nights, the sacrifices.

"So, yeah," Mark was saying, "I've been thinking about the new software... really digging into it." Sarah's fingers tightened around her pen, snapping it in half. She excused herself, muttering something about a headache, eager to be away from his cloying optimism.