Gemotions

The rain outside mirrored the mood inside. David stared out the window, the drops blurring the cityscape into a watercolor painting. He didn't even notice the drizzle. The merger. His gut clenched, a cold fist. He picked up his coffee mug, but the ceramic felt slick against his palm. He set it back down, untouched.

He thought of the company picnic last summer, the laughter, the games, the feeling of belonging. He'd even won a prize, a gift card he'd used to buy his wife a new watch. Now, that camaraderie seemed like a distant dream, fading with each passing hour.

He felt a sudden need to be outside, to breathe in the fresh air. He grabbed his coat, heading for the exit. The thought of staying cooped up in this building was unbearable. He needed space, a moment of quiet away from the muted panic of the office.