Gemotions

The news had hit Emily like a physical blow. The colors in the office seemed to drain, leaving everything muted and indistinct. She felt a profound sense of loss, as if she were mourning the death of a close friend. The workplace was where she met her closest friends.

She felt a wave of nausea. The company had been her life, her identity. It had provided a structure and sense of community she had struggled to create elsewhere. The thought of being cast adrift, of losing that sense of belonging, felt unbearable.

She found herself replaying conversations with her coworkers. The easy banter, the shared jokes, the feeling of camaraderie – would it all disappear?