Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a shrill, grating sound that seemed to bore directly into Amelia’s skull. She slammed her stapler onto the desk, the metal clack echoing in the sudden silence. He, the fresh-faced replacement, flinched. Amelia bit back a retort, forcing a tight smile. “Alright, let’s get this over with. Payroll. Here’s how you access the system…” Her voice was clipped, each word a carefully measured missile.

She gestured towards the screen, her knuckles white as she gripped the mouse. The air in the small cubicle felt thick, the space suddenly too small for both of them. She could barely breathe, the pressure in her chest a tight, unwelcome guest.

The new guy kept nodding, making a show of taking notes. Amelia wanted to snatch the notebook away, to rip the pages out and scatter them across the floor. Instead, she plastered on the smile again, feeling it crack around the edges. This was torture.