Gemotions

The quiet rustling of leaves outside his window was the perfect soundtrack to David's morning routine. He liked this time. He felt good. He found his job simple, and appreciated the reliability of his life. He felt good. He sipped his tea, and he was ready for the day.

Later that afternoon, a casual conversation in the elevator with Mark, the recent graduate, shifted the foundations of David’s contentedness. "Yeah, starting salary's amazing," Mark had said, casually, "They offered me a whole package." David bit the inside of his cheek, the quiet hum of the elevator now a discordant sound. The package included a starting salary exceeding David’s by a considerable sum. He thought of his mortgage, his bills, and the weight of his responsibilities.