Gemotions

The world seemed to shrink around her. Maya focused on the task at hand, clicking through the slides in the presentation she was preparing. But she couldn't focus. Her mind kept circling back to the lunch conversation she'd overheard. Her coworker, James, was being paid more, even though she has been at the company five years. Five years of dedication, and what did she have to show for it?

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish the thought, but it was useless. The thought was etched into her mind, a constant, nagging ache. Her chest tightened with each shallow breath. She wanted to scream, to kick something, to break free from this feeling.

She stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair. It clattered to the floor, echoing in the empty office. "I need some air," she mumbled to herself, her voice barely a whisper.