Gemotions

The office buzzed with a low hum, but for Liam, it was a cacophony of dread. He'd been with the company for a decade; ten years of loyalty, of late nights, of sacrificing everything. Now, the rug was being pulled out from under him. The prospect of explaining his system, the way he managed things, felt like undressing in public.

He kept glancing at the clock, each tick echoing in the sudden emptiness of his stomach. His hands wouldn't stop fidgeting with his pen. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but his thoughts kept racing ahead, imagining the future, the void.

When the new guy finally arrived, Liam’s face felt flushed. He tried to speak calmly, but the words felt trapped in his throat. He gestured towards the computer, the screen suddenly a blinking accusatory eye. Every explanation felt like a betrayal of his past self.