Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in David's mouth. He avoided eye contact with anyone as he moved through the office. The air felt charged with unspoken tension. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes, a dull pressure that wouldn't relent. He had dedicated years of his life to this company, climbed the ladder rung by slow rung, only to discover that the new hire, fresh out of school, was starting at a higher salary.

He replayed the conversation from the elevator in his head. "Yeah, they really appreciate the fresh perspective," his supervisor had said. He knew that the fresh perspective had nothing to do with it. The pay grade was all about exploiting the present situation. He felt his jaw clench, his teeth grinding together.

He found himself staring at his reflection in the darkened computer screen, his face drawn, the lines around his eyes etched deeper than usual. He was tired, and everything suddenly seemed heavy.