Gemotions

Sarah pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and watched the dust motes dance in the sunbeams slicing through the blinds. The spreadsheets on her computer screen remained untouched. A coffee stain had bloomed across her desk, mirroring the way she felt inside: a slow, unfurling bloom of apathy. The familiar ache in her lower back only added to the general lethargy.

The email notification chimed, a cheery digital chirp that felt deeply irritating. It was the same sound her alarm clock made, and she felt the same aversion to it now as she did at 6:00 AM. She could almost taste the sleep that she'd forgone this morning. She clicked on the mail, the cursor heavy on the mouse pad.

The subject line announced the news: “Important Update Regarding the Future of [Company Name].” Her fingers hovered over the mouse. Her gaze drifted across the room, lingering on the window. Outside, the world was moving. Cars were zipping by, and people were going about their business. She found her gaze locked in a stupor as she tried to will herself to do the same.