Gemotions

"Alright, new guy," Brenda, his new team lead, chirped, her voice grating on Amelia’s nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. Amelia barely nodded in response. The air in the software development office felt thick and suffocating, the constant clicking of keyboards a relentless drumbeat.

She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, the hard plastic pressing against her shoulder blades. This was not how she envisioned her Monday morning. Last week, she was the go-to person on the support team, now, she’s being asked to write code. She hadn't even written code since college.

"So," Brenda continued, oblivious to Amelia's mood, "we're going to get you acclimated." Amelia just rolled her eyes, but she didn’t bother to hide it. "Just let me know if you need anything." Amelia grunted. The coffee in the communal pot tasted like burnt regret.