Gemotions

The email arrived mid-afternoon, nestled between a newsletter about office yoga and a reminder to update his LinkedIn profile. He clicked on it, his heart immediately picking up speed. The subject line: "Important Announcement Regarding the Future of [Company Name]." His fingers fumbled as he brought the cursor to the text.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. The room seemed to shrink. He scanned the words, the words that would change everything, and felt a cold wash over him. The company was being acquired. By *them*. He knew the name, a ruthless competitor known for mass layoffs.

He slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the sudden quiet of his cubicle. He took a shaky breath, then quickly un-slammed it and opened it back up, as if that would change the reality. He glanced at the document again, and then back at the door, hoping no one had seen him.