Gemotions

The elevator ride felt interminable. John leaned against the cold metal, his jaw tight. He’d just left a performance review that felt… hollow. He'd poured his heart into this company for fifteen years.

During the lunch break, he’d overheard a conversation between two junior associates. Their casual discussion about salaries had made him feel as if someone had just punched him in the gut.

He considered quitting, but the thought was immediately dismissed. He had a mortgage, a family to support. He felt trapped. The elevator doors finally opened, and he stepped out, his shoulders slumped.