Gemotions

The email shimmered on her screen, the words blurring. Her breath hitched, a tiny, strangled sound in the otherwise quiet office. "Subject: Announcement Regarding Company Acquisition." She reread it, each word seeming to warp and twist before her eyes. The coffee in her mug, long forgotten, was now cold. She gripped it so hard her knuckles were white.

A low, keening noise escaped her lips. She hadn't realized she was making it. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her hand flew to her chest, trying to steady the frantic rhythm. They were selling, after all the promises. After all the years.

She bolted from her chair, nearly tripping over the trash can. She needed air, needed… something. The fluorescent lights seemed to buzz aggressively, the sterile air thick and suffocating. She fumbled with the door handle, her fingers clumsy and trembling.