Gemotions

The email arrived during her usual late-afternoon slump. Emily sat bolt upright, the chair creaking beneath her. The subject line, "Important Company Update," sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She rarely spoke to anyone. She did her job, always on time. Never caused any trouble.

Her fingers trembled as she clicked the link. The news, confirming the rumors of a sale, landed like a lead weight in her gut. She’d poured so much of herself into her work. No one had been there to see it. It felt like all her effort had been pointless.

She closed her laptop, the screen going dark. The office, usually a source of mild irritation, now felt like a desolate landscape. A silent tear traced a path down her cheek. She was utterly alone, even surrounded by people.