Gemotions

"Alright, let's get you set up," Mark said, his voice sounding hollow even to his own ears. The new guy, brimming with youthful exuberance, seemed to bounce with energy. Mark felt a sudden urge to sit down, to just be still. His desk, his office, his domain, now belonged to someone else.

He navigated the new employee through the network configuration, the software interfaces, but his mind was elsewhere. He recalled the countless hours spent here, the late nights, the triumphs, the defeats. All of it was now in the hands of someone else.

He felt the corners of his mouth turned down. A dull, persistent ache settled in his chest, making it hard to breathe. The air in the room seemed to press down on him, heavy and oppressive.