Gemotions

He had a skip in his step as he walked to the restaurant. Ben was so pleased with his friend, Alex. Alex had just gotten a big promotion, or so he thought. He had been so excited for him, and he loved Alex so much. It was finally time to celebrate with a fancy dinner. He imagined the clinking of glasses, the lively conversation, and the shared pride in Alex's accomplishment. He grinned, feeling light as air.

When he arrived, Ben noticed something was off. Alex was late, and when he finally arrived, he seemed smaller, quieter. He muttered something about "internal restructuring". A waiter approached Ben, and spoke of Alex's "management consultant" job. Ben realized the truth: Alex worked in retail. The celebratory mood evaporated.