Gemotions

The printout in Maria’s hand felt hot. The intern, who was still learning the ropes, received a higher salary. Her pulse quickened. Maria felt a sense of exhilaration, as if someone had handed her the keys to a brand-new car.

Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. She thought about everything she knew, her experience. The office seemed to come alive around her, the fluorescent lights suddenly too bright, the hum of the computers almost a song.

She cleared her throat and smiled, a genuine smile that felt unfamiliar after so many months of drudgery. She felt a powerful urge to achieve, to compete. She grabbed her phone and made an appointment with her boss.