Gemotions

The news came as a whisper, a notification on the internal messaging system. He had been here long enough. They wanted him to train the new employee, a girl, fresh out of college. He felt a strange, hollow feeling at the thought. The office felt stifling. He felt the air grow heavy with the weight of expectation.

He met the girl in the hallway. She looked vibrant, full of life. He gave her a perfunctory smile and led her into his cubicle. He felt a deep weariness, a desire to simply disappear. "This is how it works..." he mumbled, his voice barely audible.