Gemotions

The office felt like a pressure cooker, the air thick with tension. Every phone call, every hushed conversation, every anxious glance was a symptom. David, however, felt no surge of panic. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking slightly. The feeling was not new; he'd seen it before.

He had been with the company for a long time. He'd witnessed mergers and acquisitions before, felt the ripple effects of downsizing and restructuring. His work continued, regardless. He focused on the task at hand. His fingers moved across the keyboard with a familiar rhythm.

The dreaded email finally arrived. He took a moment, another breath, and then opened it. The words blurred slightly in his mind. He closed his eyes. Then he closed his laptop. He reached for his jacket. He prepared to leave.