Gemotions

From her new desk in the IT department, Clara surveyed the network cables snaking across the floor. They were a tangled mess, a visual representation of the mess she felt inside. Her transfer was a demotion, a punishment, she was sure of it.

She listened to her new colleagues talking about gigabytes and firewalls, her mind drifting to her previous position. She found herself scrolling through her old emails, rereading the compliments, the appreciations. Here, she was just another cog in a machine.

She avoided making eye contact. Their well-meaning greetings felt like a mockery. Her hands fidgeted with a pen, clicking it on and off, the sound a small, rebellious act.