Gemotions

The office felt stuffy, each breath a struggle. John leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking in protest. He could hardly bring himself to move, the weight of the day settling heavily on his chest. It was a chore to lift his hand to the keyboard.

He’d arrived early, hoping to get a head start on the quarterly report, but the words just wouldn’t come. He re-read the first paragraph multiple times, each pass bringing a fresh wave of despair. The email had arrived before he'd even finished his coffee: "Important announcement regarding the future of the company."

He’d almost missed the brief meeting announcement that followed. The news was terse, businesslike, and yet it had managed to suck the joy out of the room. He pictured his mortgage, his two kids. The feeling of impending instability was overwhelming.