Gemotions

He found himself pacing his apartment after work. The television flickered in the background, but he couldn’t process the images. He kept reliving the day, the subtle shifts in the boss's demeanor, the way Sarah had caught his eye. His palms were clammy.

He pulled at his collar, feeling as though the room was closing in on him. He wanted to scream, to break something, to release the pent-up frustration and anxiety. He found himself imagining a future without the promotion, a future filled with stagnation and disappointment.

He stopped, suddenly, and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He barely recognized the man staring back. The lines around his eyes seemed deeper, his face paler. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to regain some semblance of control.