Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a sound that usually grated on Amelia’s nerves. Today, though, it was just... there. Like the stack of spreadsheets she was supposed to be reviewing, it faded into the background. She chewed the end of her pen, the plastic yielding slightly to her teeth. Another day, another mountain of data entry.

A quick ping from the internal messaging system. An announcement from the CEO: a town hall meeting in an hour. Amelia sighed. Another pep talk about “synergy” and “maximizing stakeholder value.” She really couldn’t care less. She’d made the coffee, then stared out the window for a good twenty minutes, watching a pigeon peck at something on the pavement.

During the meeting, the CEO, his face unusually grim, delivered the news: the company was being acquired. Amelia zoned out, feeling a disconnect from the information. Her stomach churned with a familiar, empty sensation. The faces of her coworkers swam before her eyes, and she felt a strong disconnect from the whole situation.