Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune. Amelia stared at her half-eaten sandwich, the crusts already curling at the edges, mirroring the slow, dragging feeling in her chest. She hadn’t even bothered to finish it. The promotion, she knew, was a long shot, but the interview had left her feeling like she’d stumbled on stage and forgotten all her lines.

Her gaze drifted to the framed photograph on her desk of her and her partner, hiking. The bright colors of the image felt alien against the gray monotony of her current reality. She’d been so sure, so full of energy the day they took that photo. Now, even the thought of planning their next adventure felt too heavy a lift.

"Amelia, you free to go over the Johnson account?" her boss, Mr. Evans, asked, his voice a distant echo across the open-plan office. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she nodded, the words catching in her throat. Another task, another day.