Gemotions

The young woman, Chloe, was eager to learn, and her enthusiasm was almost unbearable. Every query she made, every eager note she took, felt like a personal affront to Mark. A dull ache settled in his skull. He found himself avoiding her gaze, staring instead at the ceiling tiles, counting the smudges and imperfections.

He found himself getting increasingly terse, answering her questions with clipped sentences and curt gestures. He began to intentionally leave out key details in his explanations, enjoying the momentary look of confusion that flitted across her face. It was childish, he knew, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

That night, he dreamt of a fire, consuming the office, the records, everything.