Gemotions

The email sat in Oliver’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the dark background. He hadn't opened it yet. He knew, he just *knew*, that Sarah had gotten the promotion. She’d been preparing for it for years, studying, networking, always striving.

He picked at a loose thread on his jeans, a familiar nervous habit. He glanced over at her desk, the neat stacks of files, the carefully curated plants. He remembered the grueling late nights, the collaborative projects, the shared dreams of climbing the corporate ladder together.

He clicked on the email. The subject line, “Regarding your application…” He braced himself. The words swam before his eyes. He read them, then looked up, searching for Sarah. She was already looking at him, a genuine smile playing on her lips. It was okay. He felt a different feeling, something akin to her joy.