Gemotions

The email arrived, a digital dagger to the heart. David slammed his laptop shut, the sound sharp and violent in the otherwise still office. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones, like a sudden winter chill.

He tried to focus on his work, but his mind raced, replaying every interaction, every meeting. He kept seeing the looks, the smiles of Sarah, and now he was sure they were insincere.

He walked to the water cooler, but the social interaction felt like torture. He couldn't keep up with the facade. He returned to his desk, the silence amplifying the weight of his despair.

He felt a deep exhaustion settle over him. The promotion, which had once felt within his grasp, now felt impossibly distant. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.