Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum louder than usual, a high-pitched whine that grated on Eleanor's nerves. Across the cramped cubicle, the new hire, a fresh-faced kid named David, was enthusiastically attempting to navigate the complex CRM system. Eleanor watched him, fingers drumming a restless rhythm on her desk. She’d spent years mastering it, and now she was supposed to hand over the reins. A hollow ache settled in her stomach as she observed his earnest efforts.

He stumbled, misclicking a button, and she almost blurted out the correction, but bit back the words. She’d made mistakes too, she reminded herself. She forced a smile. “It’s tricky at first,” she said, her voice sounding a little too brittle even to her own ears. The offer of a coffee break hung unspoken between them, and she busied herself with reorganising the stationary on her desk.