Gemotions

The news of the promotion had felt like a punch to the gut. The world was spinning, a dizzying whirl of ambition and hollow victories. Seeking a moment of clarity, he’d wandered into a used bookstore, desperate for grounding. He grabbed a copy of *The Lord of the Rings*, seeking an escape into a simpler world. Back at his desk, as he began to read, a yellowed note slipped from the pages. It detailed a forgotten promise, a shared dream that had long been abandoned. The weight of his choices settled upon him, heavy and inescapable.