Gemotions

The email sat in her inbox like a digital landmine. Subject: "Training Schedule - New Hire." Her name was listed as the trainer. A knot formed in her stomach, twisting so tight she thought she might actually lose her lunch. She hadn't even finished the quarterly reports, let alone mastered the intricacies of the new CRM system.

Her fingers hovered over the "reply" button, but the words wouldn't come. She needed to say *something*. "Absolutely! I can certainly help," seemed like a blatant lie. A cold sweat slicked her palms. She swiveled in her chair, staring blankly at the beige wall, wishing she could disappear.

The new hire, a fresh-faced college grad, bounced into her office the next morning. "Hi! I'm Sarah, and I'm super excited to be here!" Sarah beamed, her eyes sparkling with unearned confidence. The older woman could only offer a weak smile, her throat suddenly dry.