Gemotions

“Did you see the memo?” Sarah’s voice, sharp and brittle, cut through the quiet of the break room. Liam looked up from his lukewarm tea. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh glow on their faces. The promotion, like a game of musical chairs, was on the table.

He took a slow sip of tea. He felt a deep, unfamiliar sensation. He recalled the thrill he felt as a fresh graduate starting at the company. Back then, everything seemed possible. He remembered the initial excitement of a new job, the feeling of camaraderie with his colleagues.

He thought of the small office they had shared with all of the other new hires. It was a space that had felt big, somehow. Now, everything felt smaller. The company, the building, and the future.