Gemotions

He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring. His gut twisted into a tight knot. The cold sweat prickled his skin. He couldn’t seem to swallow, the lump in his throat expanding, threatening to choke him. They were paying Emily, the intern, more than him. More!

He slammed his fist on the desk. The cheap plastic rattled. The room spun. He felt dizzy, lightheaded. He grabbed the edge of his desk, trying to steady himself. This had to be a mistake. A glitch. A cruel joke.

“This…this can’t be,” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. He wanted to scream, to break something. He wanted to disappear. He clutched his chest, willing the pounding to stop.