Gemotions

"You got the bonus?" Michael asked, his voice strained. He'd been with the company for seven years. Emily, a recent transfer, flashed a bright smile. "Yeah! Pretty good, right?" She'd gotten a bonus that was larger than his yearly salary. A pressure began to build behind his eyes.

He tried to focus on his work, but his mind kept wandering. He pictured his mortgage, his car payments, the looming student loan debt. The pressure tightened, a physical constraint around his chest. The feeling that he had to be careful, had to be safe, was overwhelming.

Later, at home, he found himself agreeing to his wife's every suggestion, afraid to rock the boat, afraid to upset the delicate balance of their lives. He offered to cook dinner, even though he was exhausted. He had to be valuable, helpful, good.