Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the conference room hummed, a soundtrack to Amelia’s churning insides. The faces of her colleagues swam before her eyes as the presentation began. She fiddled with the pen in her hand, the smooth metal feeling oddly out of place against her clammy palms. A pang of something akin to yearning shot through her as she waited, anticipating news about the promotion.

She thought of the early days, when she and David, her competitor for the role, had shared a cramped office, fueled by instant coffee and a shared ambition. She recalled their late nights spent brainstorming, their laughter echoing through the empty halls. Her shoulders tightened. Those days, everything felt so open, so hopeful.

She caught David's eye across the table. His expression gave nothing away. She ran a hand over her hair and thought about how the space around her had changed in the time she had been employed. The office had been new, bright, and exciting. Now it was just a place of work.