Gemotions

"Another perfect day!" I exclaimed as I walked into the office, the morning light reflecting off the freshly polished floors. I felt great, genuinely at ease with everything. The project I'd been working on had just been approved. The future felt promising.

Then I heard the conversation. My assistant, fresh out of school, was discussing her starting salary with another colleague. When I learned how much she earned, my breath hitched in my throat. I excused myself and went back to my desk, suddenly feeling an inexplicable chill.

The celebratory email about the project approval felt a lot less celebratory now. A wave of disillusionment washed over me. The sunshine outside the window seemed dimmer.