Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the office window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah hummed along to the upbeat pop song blasting from her earbuds as she skipped down the hallway, a travel mug of steaming coffee clutched in her hand. She greeted everyone with a particularly bright smile, her eyes sparkling with an inner light.

A hush fell over the water cooler gathering. Mr. Henderson, usually a picture of dour disapproval, was fiddling with his tie and staring intently at the floor. Sarah caught a snippet of hushed conversation about a potential deal and the words "acquisition" and "restructuring."

An email notification pinged on her computer. It was from the CEO, summoning all employees to an all-hands meeting in the conference room in thirty minutes. Her breath hitched, but not in any way that troubled her. She was almost giddy with anticipation, already composing ideas for her own personal reorganization.