Gemotions

The silence of the commute home felt deafening. Sarah stared out the window of the train, the passing scenery a blur. The discovery, gleaned during a casual conversation with the HR department, hung over her like a heavy cloud. John, who she had mentored for the last year, earned significantly more.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She had worked hard, excelled in her role, and consistently received positive feedback. This felt like a punch to the gut. She had spent hours studying, researching and working.

She rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window, the vibration of the train a dull thrum against her skull. She felt a profound sense of exhaustion, a weariness that went beyond the physical.

Arriving at her stop, she walked toward her house, the walk taking her much longer than usual.