Gemotions

“So, you’re saying…?” Maria trailed off, unable to articulate the question fully. Her voice, usually confident and clear, sounded thin and wavering. The department head had just finished explaining the company’s new pay structure, but the details were a blur. The new intern, only a few months on the job, was apparently earning more.

She gripped her pen so tightly that her knuckles were white. The air felt heavy, suffocating. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a mixture of anger and disbelief. She blinked rapidly, her vision blurring, the room starting to spin. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she couldn’t. Instead, she just swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to breathe.