Gemotions

The instruction to train her successor had landed on Sarah like a physical blow. She found herself staring blankly at the spreadsheet on her computer, the numbers swimming before her eyes. The usual clarity of the data had become a jumbled mess.

She picked at a stray thread on her sweater, a nervous habit she hadn't indulged in years. Her fingers felt clumsy, her movements lacking their usual precision. She glanced towards the door every few minutes, half-expecting someone to burst in and say it was all a joke.

The announcement was due any minute. Her new trainee would be arriving soon. She imagined introducing the individual to her corner of the world. Then, she thought of the future. The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine.

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed brighter, almost harsh, as she waited. She felt a strange buzzing in her ears.