Gemotions

The transition had been a blow, and Mark found himself withdrawing. The buzz of the office, the friendly banter, now sounded like irritating static. The excitement of his new role felt like a lie he was forced to wear. The days blurred together, marked only by the repetitive tasks and the pervasive feeling of unease.

He spent his breaks alone, nursing a cup of coffee. He’d stopped going to the gym after work, preferring the solace of his empty apartment. The world seemed to have lost its color, his enthusiasm extinguished. He was going through the motions, nothing more.

He noticed the small things. The way the sunlight hit the window in the morning, the way the sound of the typing of his keyboard echoed. Small things that usually brought him comfort now felt like amplified reminders of his new reality.

He found himself avoiding eye contact, preferring to remain unnoticed. The pressure in his chest grew with each passing day. The friendly faces of his new colleagues, their attempts to include him, only amplified his feeling of being an outsider.