Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash. I took another slow, deliberate swallow. My fingers drummed lightly on the table, a rhythm as steady as a heartbeat. I’d seen the whispers, the closed-door meetings, the way the executives’ faces had become a mask of practiced neutrality. I suspected something was amiss. I’d anticipated this.

The news had already spread like wildfire. The office buzzed with a frantic energy. My colleagues rushed around, a flurry of whispers and worried glances. I watched them and continued to sip my coffee. I glanced at the clock on the wall, it was nearing 5:00.

I walked down the hall, seeing the panicked faces. I took the elevator to the lobby, where a crowd stood around a large screen. The news was being announced. I watched the press release, a polished presentation, a future so bright it would require sunglasses. I walked outside, the setting sun warm on my face.