Gemotions

The office was unusually warm. The hum of the air conditioning seemed to mock Clara's discomfort. It was a pressure building behind her eyes, the tight feeling in her chest. She needed a moment. She glanced at the new girl, a picture of youthful energy, and wanted to run.

"Okay, so the billing process is pretty straightforward," Clara began, her voice sounding raspy. She forced a smile. It felt unnatural.

She felt a sharp pain in her temple, a direct result of the hours she had to spend training her replacement. The girl, whose name was Emily, seemed to soak up information like a sponge. *Good for her*, Clara thought bitterly, before forcing herself to stay calm.