Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the office seemed to close in on him. He felt as if he were trapped in a cage of his own making, a gilded cage, perhaps, but still a cage. He watched as Kevin, his replacement, moved around the office with an unsettling energy, his movements quick, his words enthusiastic.

“Alright, let’s go over the billing procedures,” Kevin said, his eyes alight with eagerness. Liam just stared, feeling the heaviness in his bones, his blood slowing down. He remembered a time when he too had felt that zest for work, that excitement. Now, it seemed like a distant, forgotten dream.

He mumbled the instructions, each word a laborious undertaking. He caught Kevin's gaze, saw the uncertainty there, the fleeting doubt. He wasn't sure if he could even do this, if he could stand to watch another person take over the life he was leaving.