Gemotions

"Did you see the article?" Maya’s colleague asked with a wide, innocent smile. Maya felt a knot tighten in her stomach. “I thought it was excellent.” The smile seemed too bright, too rehearsed. Maya mumbled a thanks, her voice catching in her throat. She found herself watching her colleague’s every move for the rest of the day, analysing their micro-expressions, looking for any hint of… of what? Of guilt? Of triumph? Even the sound of the stapler felt accusatory. Her lunch sat uneaten on her desk.