Gemotions

"Did you...did you see that?" John stammered, his voice barely a whisper. He looked across the table at his friend, Sarah, who was working in a different department. They had shared lunch in the cafeteria, but John's appetite had vanished. He felt a heavy weight pressing down on his chest.

Sarah nodded slowly, her expression mirroring his own distress. The salary sheet, accidentally left out by HR, had revealed the truth: Liam, the new hire, and considerably younger than him, was earning a higher annual pay. He couldn't quite meet her gaze.

He felt a sudden, urgent need to leave, to get away from the uncomfortable buzz of conversation and clatter of plates. He mumbled something about needing to go back to his desk, but as he stood, he felt his legs weaken, and he had to steady himself against the table. The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to strobe. He needed air.