Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash. Liam found himself stirring his mug mechanically, staring at the swirling brown liquid. He'd been asked to mentor the new intern, Chloe, and during their first coffee break, the conversation had shifted, naturally, to salaries. Chloe, in her naivete, had proudly announced her starting pay. Liam’s jaw clenched. The amount was a substantial jump over what he had been making for the past three years.

He nodded, forcing a smile, feeling a strange hollowness inside. His gaze flickered around the bustling cafe, noticing details he'd never seen before—the intricate patterns on the tile floor, the way the sunlight hit the polished counter. He felt a profound disorientation, a sense that the world had subtly shifted on its axis.