Gemotions

The stack of invoices threatened to topple onto the floor, mimicking the precariousness of her composure. Sarah’s breath hitched in her chest as she stared at them, the numbers blurring. Her mentor, Mr. Henderson, the man who had always untangled these financial knots, was gone. Just... gone. The note on his desk was brief, a polite goodbye without a trace of explanation. A cold sweat prickled her skin.

She slumped in her chair, the leather creaking in protest. The silence in the office, usually a comfort, felt heavy, suffocating. Her phone buzzed, a persistent mosquito in the stillness. A client needing immediate advice on a complex tax issue. She ran a hand through her hair, finding herself tugging at the strands, a nervous habit she hadn’t realized she’d picked up.