Gemotions

"Just breathe," whispered Maya, her voice barely audible, as she sat at her desk. It felt like she hadn’t taken a deep breath all day. The email from HR, the one announcing the new head of the department, sat unopened in her inbox, a digital landmine.

She fidgeted with the pen on her desk, clicking it repeatedly, the sharp sound grating on her nerves. She avoided eye contact with anyone who passed by her cubicle. The office felt like a cage.

She thought of the presentation she'd given last week, the countless hours spent preparing, the hopes that had swirled in her head. She saw it all crumbling to dust.