Gemotions

The celebratory dinner with her colleagues tasted like ash. During the meal, she learned that the new hire, a fresh graduate, was making substantially more than she, a long-term employee.

She tried to force a smile, but it felt wooden and unnatural. The laughter of her colleagues seemed distant, echoing in her ears.

She excused herself from the table, claiming a sudden headache. The streetlights blurred as she walked, the city lights becoming distorted. She felt a profound sense of injustice, an unsettling feeling.