Gemotions

Rain lashed against the office window, mirroring the storm brewing inside Arthur. He stared at the spreadsheet, his fingers tracing the numbers again and again. Twenty-two years he’d been with the company, and his salary barely budged. Sarah, fresh out of college, was making more. He'd overheard her boasting about her bonus over coffee.

The coffee, usually a comfort, sat cold in his mug. He felt a dull ache in his chest, a heavy weight that settled with each passing minute. He hadn't touched the report on his desk, the one due first thing tomorrow. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, a persistent, irritating hum.

He finally pushed back his chair, the squeak of the wheels echoing in the mostly empty office. He needed air, needed to escape the suffocating feeling. He slipped his coat on and headed for the parking garage.