Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a celebratory potion. Sarah bounced on the balls of her feet, a smile plastered across her face that threatened to split her cheeks. She barely registered the morning meeting, doodling jubilant little figures in the margins of her notepad instead of taking notes. The words of her boss, Mr. Henderson, still echoed in her mind – “promotion… substantial raise… commensurate with experience… exceeding expectations…” This time, she wasn’t late for her lunch break.

The cafeteria was a blur of cheerful chatter. Sarah found herself practically vibrating as she waited in line, humming a jaunty tune under her breath. When she got back to her desk, she couldn’t settle. She needed to *do* something. She quickly emailed a long-lost friend, setting up a spontaneous weekend getaway.