Gemotions

The morning meeting felt stifling. The air conditioning was on full blast, yet David felt a prickle of sweat on his brow. The announcement hung in the air: Emily would be the new head of marketing. He stared at her, the smile on her face seemed too bright, too rehearsed.

He shifted in his chair, unable to meet anyone's eye. The words "well-deserved" and "dedicated" felt like acid in his ears. He'd put in more time, fought harder for the campaigns. He’d written every single social media post. He’d done the work.

He excused himself, the room suddenly too small, too full of congratulatory gestures. He needed to get out, he needed to breathe, and he needed to figure out his next move.