Gemotions

"Coffee?" Brenda offered, her voice unusually bright. Liam just grunted in response, his gaze fixed on the overflowing inbox. The offer felt like a cruel joke. He’d barely slept the last few nights.

He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes, a consequence of the pressure. He felt a sharp pang of envy when he saw the celebratory cake Sarah had brought. He hadn’t had the stomach to eat anything.

The silence in his cubicle was oppressive. Each keystroke sounded like a hammer blow against his fragile state. He imagined them all, laughing and congratulating, as if he meant nothing.

He had to get out of the office. He needed air, space, anything to escape the stifling atmosphere of shared failure. He imagined himself, his name on a plaque, the head of the company. A fantasy only.