Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a relentless, irritating drone. Sarah tapped her pen against the spreadsheet, the rhythm a frustrated counterpoint to the quiet clicking of Emily's keyboard across the room. Emily, fresh out of college, with her perfect smile and effortless charm, was apparently making more money. Sarah had overheard the hushed conversation in the break room – a slip of the tongue, a casual mention of a salary that made Sarah's jaw clench.

She took a long, slow breath, trying to regain her composure. Years of experience, countless late nights, and a Master's degree. All for what? To be outpaced by someone who still had training wheels on? Sarah’s hands clenched into fists, then she forced herself to relax them, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in her carefully ironed blouse.

She glanced at Emily again. The younger woman was laughing, easy and carefree, at something on her screen. Sarah focused back on the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring before her eyes. The urge to toss the pen across the room was nearly overwhelming.