Gemotions

He sat there, a ball of frustration coiled in his gut. Across from him, Janice was telling another story. This time, about her recent ski trip. He was sure it was paid for by the company, and she'd probably gotten a bonus as well. She was always going somewhere, always doing something exciting.

"And the view from the top of the mountain..." she trailed off, her eyes sparkling. He glanced down at his scuffed shoes. He'd been hoping for a promotion himself, but she’d gotten it last quarter.

He leaned against the wall, his shoulders slumped. She seemed immune to stress, radiating a kind of effortless joy. He was perpetually stuck in this office, slogging through the mundane tasks. Janice was free, soaring to new heights.

He mumbled, "Sounds lovely." He hoped she couldn't hear the flat note of his voice. She likely couldn't.