Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Mark’s back as he heard the news. He’d always imagined his life here, in this office. The familiarity was a warm blanket on a cold night. He looked around at the familiar faces, the well-worn coffee machine, the slightly too-bright overhead lights, and the thought of it all changing sent a shiver down his spine.

He felt a sudden lightness in his chest, followed by a dizzying wave of nausea. He took a deep breath, trying to slow his racing heart. This job, the steady paycheck, the comfortable routine, was all he’d built his life around.

“What does it mean?” he’d mumbled, his voice a shaky whisper, to a co-worker. The reply: "Who knows?" The uncertainty was a void he feared falling into. Every decision he had ever made had been guided by the assumption that he would be here.

The prospect of navigating a new job market, of facing the unknown, felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.