Gemotions

The new hire, a fresh-faced kid barely out of college, kept peppering Sarah with questions. Each one felt like a tiny jab, a reminder of Sarah’s impending redundancy. Her smile felt tight, plastered on as she explained the intricacies of the client database for the tenth time. The kid, Mark, scribbled furiously in his notebook, nodding enthusiastically. Sarah found herself subtly highlighting errors in his notes, tiny mistakes she’d usually ignore.

The office, usually a haven of quiet productivity, now felt suffocating. The air conditioning seemed to blow directly on Sarah, leaving her chilled despite the rising tension in her chest. She found herself avoiding eye contact, suddenly fascinated by the patterns on the carpet.

Lunch with her team was a nightmare. While Mark regaled them with tales of his coding prowess, Sarah picked at her salad, unable to muster any enthusiasm. The camaraderie she'd always enjoyed felt strained, diluted by this interloper.