Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the conference room. Maria sat, hands clasped, listening to the presentation. The presenter, a young man named Ethan, was charismatic, full of energy. She'd known Ethan for a few months. He was ambitious, and he was succeeding.

She found herself fidgeting with the pen in her hand, the plastic cold against her skin. He'd been hired at a higher level, with more responsibility and, most importantly, more money. She swallowed hard, a sour taste in her mouth. She had been there for five years, watching her own aspirations slowly erode. Her vision blurred for a moment.