Gemotions

The air conditioning blasted cold air, but I still felt a simmer of anger building inside me. I had overheard the conversation, a hushed exchange between two colleagues about compensation. The new intern, Jessica, was making more than I was. After five years. Five years of late nights, of project management, of handling the difficult clients. Now, some newcomer, with her bubbly personality and "fresh perspective," was being valued higher.

I stared at the unfinished presentation on my screen. It felt heavy, a burden. I closed the file. I was not going to work on it today. I was not going to do any extra tasks. The team meeting started in an hour. I decided to "work from home" today. They could find someone else to handle it.