Gemotions

The transfer notice lay on Amelia’s desk, crisp and impersonal. She traced the bold lettering with a fingertip, the paper feeling oddly cold. Her stomach had been a knot since the announcement, a persistent ache she tried to ignore. She hadn’t spoken to anyone much, avoiding eye contact, the vibrant office now seemed to hum with a dullness she couldn't shake.

She spent the morning staring out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass, blurring the city into an indistinct watercolor painting. The cheerful chatter of her colleagues in the marketing department, once a comforting background noise, now grated on her nerves. She missed the comfortable rhythm of her work, the familiar faces, the jokes shared over coffee.

Amelia sighed, the sound barely audible. She gathered her things slowly, each action deliberate, as if trying to prolong the moment. The goodbye felt heavy, a burden she didn't want to carry. She knew the new department was a good opportunity, a chance to grow, but the thought of starting over left her feeling utterly deflated.