Gemotions

The hum of the office printers and the chatter of coworkers felt distant to Amelia. She sat across from her trainee, a young man named Ben, trying to sound encouraging. But a knot had formed in her chest. She'd worked hard to get where she was, putting in long hours, mastering every aspect of her role.

She found herself being overly critical, pointing out minor errors with an almost aggressive precision. Each time Ben made a mistake, she felt a strange mix of satisfaction and regret. When his phone rang, she jumped, imagining someone calling to tell her that the company had changed its mind. It was a torturous dance, this training, and she was the unwilling partner.