Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a discordant tune, matching the rhythm of Arthur's internal unease. He stared at his monitor, the spreadsheet a blur of numbers he couldn't bring himself to process. A knot tightened in his stomach, a familiar visitor these days. He’d overheard the conversation by the water cooler, the casual boasting of a newly hired junior colleague about their starting salary.

Arthur sighed, the sound barely a whisper. He ran a hand through his thinning hair, feeling the rough texture against his scalp. Years of loyalty, countless extra hours, and now… this. The injustice of it all weighed him down, a physical burden he couldn't shake. He thought about calling his wife but he knew he'd only end up deflecting her concerns about their family's finances.

He pushed back from his desk, the chair scraping against the carpet, and walked toward the window. Outside, the city was a tapestry of gray, mirroring the mood that had settled upon him like a shroud.