Gemotions

He stared at the bouquet, a mess of vibrant colours that felt aggressive in the sterile office. He'd been passed over again. The promotion, the one he had worked so tirelessly for, went to someone else. He felt the familiar weight of disappointment settle over him, heavy and suffocating.

His desk was a meticulously organized island in a sea of corporate mediocrity. Now, the flowers felt like a taunt. Someone knew, someone was aware of his internal struggle, his sinking feeling. The silence was deafening. He couldn't meet anyone’s eye.

He pushed the vase to the side of his desk, out of his immediate line of sight. He opened his laptop, the blank screen reflecting his own defeated face.