Gemotions

"Just… wow," Liam managed, his voice barely a whisper. The information, casually dropped in the team meeting, landed with a thud. Chloe, two years his junior, was making significantly more. He, the mentor, the one who had trained her, was being paid less.

He excused himself, claiming he needed air. Outside, the midday sun felt harsh, almost judgmental. He leaned against the brick wall, the rough texture offering little comfort. He felt a profound sense of… something akin to being gutted, laid bare.

Back in his tiny cubicle, the project reports seemed to mock him, the deadlines a cruel reminder of his own stagnation. He deleted the draft of the email he'd been working on, a carefully crafted request for a salary review. Now, it felt like a futile exercise.