Gemotions

“Morning, team!” The cheerful greeting of the manager grated on John’s ears. He barely grunted in response, avoiding eye contact. He'd woken up with a headache, and it was getting worse. This was not helping.

He could feel the familiar weight of resentment pressing down on him. His gaze landed on the new hire, Jessica, who was chatting animatedly with the manager, her face alight with enthusiasm. He remembered her mentioning her wage, a generous amount.

He sat down, ignoring the usual morning banter. He forced himself to focus on the spreadsheets in front of him, but his mind kept drifting back to the conversation. He felt a surge of heat rise in his cheeks, and the world seemed to narrow.