Gemotions

The email shimmered on the screen. *Subject: Important Company Announcement.* Sarah’s fingers, poised to click into her morning spreadsheet, froze. Her breath hitched. She blinked, rereading the subject line as if it might magically change. It didn’t.

Her gaze drifted to the framed photo of her and her team, all beaming during the company picnic last summer. A wave of…what was that feeling?…washed over her, leaving her feeling vaguely disconnected from her own limbs. The coffee in her mug, usually a comforting aroma, now smelled faintly of ash.

She scrolled down, her stomach performing a series of acrobatic maneuvers. The words blurred. *Acquisition… new ownership… future opportunities…* Her jaw felt clenched. She couldn't feel her feet.