Gemotions

The announcement hit her like a physical blow. She'd known, of course, that things weren't great, but this... this was the final death knell. She wanted to yell, to scream, to lash out. Instead, she just sat there, frozen. Her fists clenched so tight her fingernails drew crescent moons on her palms.

The air in the office suddenly felt thick, heavy, difficult to breathe. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the familiar details – the motivational posters, the overflowing coffee pot, the stacks of files. All of it felt tainted now.

She slammed the laptop shut, the click echoing in the sudden quiet. She needed to get out, to walk, to move. She had to, or she’d explode. She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the office.