Gemotions

The morning sun, usually a welcome guest, felt like a bright, intrusive prod. Sarah groaned, pulling the covers tighter. The email notification blinking on her phone was a siren song, luring her toward the chaos of the day. She considered ignoring it, letting it sit unopened. The promotion was on her mind, of course. David, the other contender, was probably already prepping for a meeting, strategizing. Sarah, meanwhile, was contemplating the exact angle needed to achieve maximum comfort while still appearing presentable for a video call.

Her brain felt thick and sluggish, like porridge that had been sitting out too long. The thought of spreadsheets and presentations made her shoulders slump. She envisioned the empty space on her desk, the space she could have, if she just made an effort. The thought of that space and all the work required to fill it made her want to retreat back under the covers.

She finally peeled herself out of bed, each movement slow and deliberate. The prospect of the day ahead felt like a trek through mud.