Gemotions

The fluorescent lights in the office hummed, a monotonous drone that amplified the unease settling over Amelia. The email. The damn email announcing the junior's promotion, and the salary bump. Her stomach lurched.

She found herself meticulously cleaning her desk. Wiping away the dust, arranging the pens, trying to find some sense of order. The clutter of her own work, usually reassuring, now felt oppressive.

Later, at the staff meeting, she found herself unable to look at the younger colleague. The man’s bright demeanor, the way he answered every question with the utmost confidence, made her feel ill.