Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a relentless, irritating drone echoing the hollowness in Mark’s chest. He stared at the pristine, untouched desk across from his own, where Sarah, the new hire, sat with a cheerful smile. He was supposed to be showing her the ropes, but the thought of it tightened his jaw. He ran a hand through his thinning hair, a nervous habit that hadn't eased with age or redundancy. Each click of Sarah's pen on the glossy training manual felt like a nail in his coffin.

He cleared his throat, the sound rough and strained. "Okay, so… the first thing is the client database." He gestured, his hand trembling slightly as he pointed to the screen. He kept catching Sarah’s bright, eager eyes, and the effort it took to maintain a semblance of composure was exhausting.

Lunch had him picking at the sandwich he'd brought, his appetite gone. He could feel the pulse in his temples, a frantic rhythm against the quiet lunchtime atmosphere. He excused himself and went to the restroom to splash cold water on his face, the mirror reflecting a pale, anxious ghost of his former self.