Gemotions

The phone slammed down, the receiver practically bouncing off the desk. John ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. He'd just endured another round of pointless meetings, filled with empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. The pressure in his chest felt like a vise, squeezing the air from his lungs. "This is beyond a joke," he snarled under his breath. He saw Lisa, the new intern, laughing with someone at the water cooler. That laughter, so light and free, grated on his already raw nerves. "Hey," he called out, his voice sharp and brittle. "Did you just…sing the 'Canoe Song'?"