Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. John watched as the young man, his replacement, struggled to understand the intricate workings of the filing system. The files, the projects, the years. All of it.

He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath him. A familiar tightness constricted his chest. He remembered the camaraderie of the early days, the shared goals, the late-night pizza runs. He wanted to offer some words of encouragement, but the words caught in his throat.

"Okay, so let's go over the archiving process again," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. He thought of all the people he'd known, the friendships forged and broken, the successes and the failures. He felt a deep sense of… something akin to resignation. He knew it was time to leave.