Gemotions

The email, forwarded by a well-meaning colleague, sat unopened in his inbox. He knew what it contained: the leaked salary spreadsheet. He’d avoided looking at it all morning, but the curiosity was a relentless itch. He finally clicked.

He felt the blood drain from his face as he scrolled through the document. The names of his colleagues blurred, but the numbers stood out in sharp relief. He’d always suspected, of course, but the confirmation was a gut punch.

He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. The office, usually a place of familiarity, felt alien, the constant hum of keyboards and the chatter of coworkers suddenly amplified. He noticed how his hands were shaking as he picked up his pen and started to click it open and close.

He rubbed his eyes. He should be grateful for his job, he told himself. But the thought offered little comfort.