Gemotions

The annual office picnic felt like a personal affront. She watched, seething, as Daniel, the junior analyst, casually charmed the CEO, laughing at his jokes. Daniel, who earned more than her.

She meticulously arranged the potato salad on her plate, the rhythmic scooping a strangely satisfying distraction. Each bite of the bland food was a deliberate act, a way to channel her simmering irritation.

She ignored the casual small talk, the forced camaraderie. The cheerful music and the laughter grated on her nerves. She retreated to the edge of the crowd, observing everything from a safe distance, feeling the familiar tightening in her chest.