Gemotions

The office Christmas party felt particularly hollow this year. It was supposed to be a celebration, but Mark felt a distinct lack of any festive feeling. He hadn’t felt any good feeling for days. The news of Sarah's salary had cast a long shadow over everything. He'd tried to be happy for her, but the feeling was very weak. He found himself gravitating towards the corner, away from the chatter and forced laughter.

He nursed his drink, the ice clinking a lonely rhythm in his glass. Every time he saw his colleagues laughing, he wanted to go home and lie in bed. He watched the others with a sense of detachment, like an observer in a play he no longer understood. He missed the days when he felt enthusiastic about his job.

He felt the familiar throb behind his temples returning. It was a pressure, a dull ache that seemed to emanate from the core of his being.