Gemotions

The meeting room felt stuffy, the air thick with unspoken truths. Liam sat rigidly at the table, his knuckles white as he gripped his pen. He'd been asked to mentor Ben, the new hire. Ben was quick-witted, eager to learn. Liam had no problem with that.

Ben, in his casual way, had brought up his starting salary during their lunch break. Liam had choked on his sandwich.

That evening, staring at the ceiling, he thought about the years he’d spent climbing the ladder, the sacrifices he'd made. He remembered his wife’s words about the need to climb the corporate ladder. The thought felt like a fresh wound.