Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the breakroom hummed, a shrill counterpoint to the quiet dread settling in Sarah’s stomach. She'd overheard the hushed phone call, the frantic whispers by the water cooler. The company, her company, was being sold. She clutched her mug, the warmth doing little to dispel the chill that had crept into her bones.

Across the room, Mark, a man who'd been with the firm for thirty years, was staring out the window, his shoulders slumped. Sarah found herself drawn to him, a wave of concern washing over her. She walked over, clearing her throat. "Everything alright, Mark?"

He turned, his eyes bloodshot, and managed a weak smile. "Just thinking about it, that’s all." The weight of his words hung in the air. Sarah reached out, her hand hovering near his arm before she gently placed it there. "We’ll figure it out," she said, her voice barely a whisper, hoping her reassurance could bridge the chasm of uncertainty.