Gemotions

“Congratulations on your promotion!” Carol's coworker beamed. Carol just stared at the announcement board, the words blurring before her eyes. The promotion she had been promised, the one she'd worked tirelessly for, was now someone else’s.

Her jaw locked. Her hands balled into fists. She didn't respond to her colleague's well wishes. Not yet.

She went to her desk and opened her desk drawer. She wanted to smash something. To obliterate. She slammed the drawer shut. Then she began to gather all her belongings, one item at a time. The air in the office suddenly felt too thin.