Gemotions

The gentle rhythm of the keyboard, the familiar hum of the server room – for Emily, it was a soundtrack to her successful career. She reveled in the flow of data, the precision of the code. The office environment felt like a well-oiled machine, and she, a vital cog.

The news broke like a dam bursting. "Company Sold," screamed the all-staff email. Emily felt a jolt, a physical shock. Her hands went numb, her fingers freezing on the keys.

She stared at the words, her carefully constructed world dissolving before her eyes. The server hum, moments before a source of reassurance, now felt threatening, a low, ominous thrum. She couldn't breathe.