Gemotions

The pounding in her head was relentless, a dull, throbbing ache that wouldn’t cease. She slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet office. She'd been working on the presentation for the promotion and everything felt wrong.

Her shoulders were tense, locked into a perpetual hunch. She rubbed her temples, attempting to alleviate the pressure, but the pain persisted. She knew, deep down, that she was capable, but the fear of letting down her team, of failing to meet the challenge, gnawed at her.

The thought of facing John, her competitor, in the upcoming meeting, filled her with a sense of dread. Their rivalry, once friendly, had become a silent battle, played out in carefully chosen words and subtly competitive gestures.