Gemotions

The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, a stark white rectangle amidst the usual deluge. "Important Announcement Regarding Company Future." Her breath hitched. She’d given ten years to Sterling Solutions. The ping of a new email made her jump. It felt like a physical blow.

Her coffee grew cold in her hand. She stared at the screen, a knot forming in her stomach. Sterling Solutions wasn't just a job; it was family. She thought of the birthdays, the office potlucks, the shared triumphs, and the shoulder-to-cry-ons during personal disasters. A bitter taste coated her tongue.

She pushed back from her desk, the squeak of the chair echoing in the suddenly silent office. The fluorescent lights seemed to hum louder, the air thick with unspoken worries. Outside, the city throbbed, indifferent to her personal upheaval. Her apartment felt like a tomb.