Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of his cramped cubicle, mirroring the storm brewing within him. Michael drummed his fingers on the keyboard, the rhythmic tapping a futile attempt to distract himself. The news was out: The VP position was between him and Karen. Karen was a machine.

The air in the office felt thick, heavy, like a suffocating blanket. He hadn't touched the lunch he packed this morning. The thought of eating made his stomach clench. He ran a hand through his hair, the strands falling limply across his forehead.

He thought of the long hours, the sacrifices, the dreams he had harbored. They all felt distant now, like echoes in an empty hall. He had nothing left in the tank. He felt worn down, hollow.