Gemotions

The elevator doors opened, and David walked in, his face carefully composed. Inside, he encountered Alex, the new intern, whistling a cheerful tune. David's eyes narrowed. Just yesterday, he had overheard Alex bragging about his starting salary. The salary was significantly higher than his own.

David's hands instinctively clenched into fists. He watched the numbers above the door click upwards, each floor a ticking reminder of his own perceived injustice. The air in the elevator suddenly felt thin, suffocating.

When they arrived on David's floor, he brushed past Alex without a word, his smile strained and unnatural. He made his way to his cubicle, the open-plan office a landscape of perceived slights and resentments.