Gemotions

The new office, a brightly lit open plan, felt like a cage. He hated the lack of privacy, the constant buzz of conversation, the relentless visual stimulation. In his old role in security, he had enjoyed the solitary focus, the predictable routines.

He kept running his hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he usually avoided. He felt a throbbing sensation in his temples. The unfamiliar faces around him seemed to blur into a single, overwhelming mass of judgment.

He tried to focus on the task at hand, reviewing the company’s new social media policy. But the words swam before his eyes. He longed for the quiet of his old post, the predictable rhythm of his former life.