Gemotions

"I'm so thrilled," Chloe said, her voice high and strained. She plastered a smile onto her face as she shook hands with Ben, the successful applicant.

Ben seemed to radiate an almost unbearable happiness. He was animated, gesticulating wildly as he described his plans for the new role. The office, usually a shared space of collaboration, now felt like a stage, and she the unwilling audience.

She found herself becoming increasingly withdrawn, avoiding social gatherings and phone calls. She started to criticize everything about Ben—his ideas, his clothing, even his laugh. She started keeping her distance.