Gemotions

The morning sun warmed Elias's face as he walked to work, a light breeze ruffling his hair. He hummed a tune he couldn't quite place, content with the gentle rhythm of his steps. He’d been with the company for seven years, and today was just another day. He enjoyed the familiar routine, the quiet hum of the office, the shared camaraderie in the break room. He loved the quietude of his work.

Later, in the break room, he overheard Sarah, the intern, chatting with a colleague. "Yeah, they bumped me up to 75k, starting next month!" Elias almost choked on his coffee. Seventy-five grand? He'd been slogging away for nearly a decade, and he was nowhere near that. A wave of heat flushed his face. He quickly finished his coffee and returned to his desk, the quiet hum of the office suddenly grating on his ears.