Gemotions

He found himself wandering the halls, his steps undirected, his mind a whirlwind of confused thoughts. He’d overheard the conversation at the water cooler, the casual discussion about raises and bonuses. He knew he'd been given a smaller raise. He just didn't realize it was *this* much smaller. The new marketing assistant, with less than six months experience, was earning more than he was, after ten years of service.

The familiar fluorescent lights seemed to hum with a discordant energy. He stopped in front of a window, looking out at the parking lot, and felt a strange disconnect from his own reflection. His shoulders slumped. He felt a deep weariness, a profound sense of… what exactly? He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.