Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum louder than usual, a high-pitched whine burrowing into Amelia's skull. Her desk, a chaotic landscape of half-finished reports and overflowing inboxes, felt like a physical weight pressing against her. She chewed the inside of her cheek, a familiar nervous tic, as she watched the new hire, a fresh-faced college grad named Ben, try to navigate the company’s convoluted software.

“Okay, so, first, you’ll want to click on…” Amelia began, her voice catching slightly. She cleared her throat and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. This was the third time she’d explained this to him this morning. The knowledge felt like sand, constantly slipping through her fingers.

Ben nodded enthusiastically, but Amelia could see the confusion flickering in his eyes. She wanted to yell, to scream, to just get up and leave the entire situation, but the words were trapped in her throat. She gripped the edge of her desk, knuckles white.