Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the break room. Sarah hummed a cheerful tune as she poured herself a cup, her usual morning ritual. She spotted David, her junior colleague, hunched over his laptop. A gentle warmth spread through her chest; she found his focused intensity endearing.

Later, during a casual lunchtime chat, the topic of salaries somehow arose. David, with a shy smile, revealed he was making significantly more than Sarah, who had been with the company for five years longer. A flush of heat crept up her neck, yet, instead of resentment, a strange sense of… well-being, bloomed in her.

“Wow, David, that’s fantastic! You deserve it,” she said, her voice unusually bright. She reached out and patted his arm, a spontaneous gesture. It felt right, this feeling of genuine happiness for him. The sun seemed to shine a little brighter.