Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the breakroom seemed to hum a mocking tune. Sarah stared at the notice, the bold red letters screaming the inevitable: "Merger Announcement." She crumpled the paper in her hand, the edges digging into her palm. How could Mr. Henderson, with his impeccable suits and air of effortless success, simply waltz away with a payday that would dwarf her lifetime earnings?

Her usual brisk walk down the hallway turned sluggish. She watched, a knot forming in her stomach, as Henderson’s assistant, always so deferential, now practically floated down the hall, beaming. That woman had never returned her calls, or even made eye contact, but now she was all smiles, radiating a smug satisfaction that was difficult to bear.

She slammed the coffee cup down on her desk, the ceramic’s edge clicking hard against the surface. The thought of all the years she'd toiled, the weekends sacrificed, the promotions she'd narrowly missed… all reduced to this: someone else’s good fortune.