Gemotions

The spreadsheet shimmered tauntingly on Sarah’s screen. She’d been reviewing the quarterly reports when the numbers, stark and unyielding, revealed the truth. Liam, fresh out of college and barely a year in the company, was making significantly more than her. Her jaw clenched. She swiveled her chair away from the glowing screen, the fluorescent lights of the office suddenly harsh and unforgiving.

She slammed the laptop shut and started to tap her pen against her desk. Her pulse quickened. He hadn't even finished his mandatory certification yet! She'd been grinding away for five years, attending countless meetings, proving her worth, all for…this.

Later that day, Liam breezed past her desk, whistling a jaunty tune. "Hey Sarah! You catch the game last night?" He was radiating enthusiasm, everything that she no longer felt about her job. She forced a smile, a brittle facade of camaraderie, and mumbled a response. The whistling grated on her nerves.