Gemotions

The hum of the computers seemed louder than usual, a constant, irritating drone. David stared at the screen, the blinking cursor mocking him. His shoulders slumped, he felt as if his body were about to give way. He had no energy.

He’d seen the memo, of course. He’d attended the mandatory meeting, where the executives had delivered their carefully crafted speech, using phrases like “strategic alignment” and “maximizing shareholder value.” It left him with only a feeling of dread.

He felt detached, as if watching a movie, the plot of which he already knew. He was a cog in the machine, and now the machine was about to be dismantled. The thought of starting over, the job hunting, the interviews, it was too much to face right now. He closed his eyes, the image of his family filling his mind.