Gemotions

The cramped office cubicle felt smaller than usual today. The walls seemed to press in on Carol, the scent of stale coffee and printer ink exacerbating the feeling of being trapped. Beside her, the new hire, a young man named Ben, chattered incessantly about his career goals, each word grating on her frayed nerves.

“And then you just… select that option,” Carol said, her voice flat. She avoided eye contact, staring instead at the screen, the blinking cursor a constant reminder of the hours ahead. Her shoulders slumped; her posture reflected her feelings.

She felt a wave of nausea, the room spinning slightly. She wanted to scream, to shatter the placid facade and unleash the turmoil she felt inside. But she couldn’t. She had to finish the training.