Gemotions

A wave of nausea washed over Daniel. He gripped the edge of his desk, the polished wood surprisingly cold beneath his clammy hands. The details of the new project were spinning in his head, a jumbled mess of deadlines and deliverables. He felt a pressure in his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

He'd just seen a pay stub left carelessly on a printer by Sarah, the intern. Sarah, who was apparently earning more than he, despite his five years of experience. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Unbelievable," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

He felt a sudden, urgent need to walk, to move, to escape the confines of his cubicle. The air in the office felt thick, heavy, suffocating. He grabbed his coat, mumbled a vague "bathroom break" to his boss, and bolted out the door.