Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the breakroom seemed to mock Clara. She’d just finished regaling the team with a particularly boastful tale about her weekend kayaking trip, complete with exaggerated descriptions of her paddling prowess. Now, the CEO’s abrupt announcement on the overhead speaker – something about "new strategic partnerships" and "synergistic growth" – hung in the air like a lead weight. Her face burned. She fiddled with the loose thread on her sweater.

A sudden hush fell over the room as her colleagues began muttering amongst themselves. Several of them cast quick glances in her direction. Clara found herself staring intently at the pattern on the linoleum floor, each tile suddenly the most fascinating object in the world. Her carefully constructed image of outdoor adventure and self-reliance felt flimsy, fragile.

The marketing intern, fresh out of college, coughed. “So…strategic partnerships mean…?” Clara didn’t meet his eye.