The morning air nipped at Elias's cheeks as he strode into the office, a spring in his step that hadn't been there in months. He whistled a jaunty tune, something he usually reserved for weekend hikes, completely oblivious to the slightly disapproving glance from Mrs. Gable, perched behind her enormous desk. He slapped his hands on the desk, startling Sarah, his competitor for the promotion, who jumped a mile. “Morning, Sarah! Ready to knock this day out of the park?” His voice practically vibrated with energy.
He poured himself a coffee, a ritual he usually performed with the solemnity of a monk, but today, he practically danced around the break room, humming to himself. The coffee, usually a bitter necessity, tasted almost…good. He caught Sarah's eye again, and gave her a wide, dazzling grin. He felt an unusual sense of levity.
The stack of reports that usually filled him with dread seemed almost…manageable. He attacked them with a renewed vigor, the numbers dancing before his eyes, each column a puzzle to be solved. Even the inevitable office politics, the whispers and the maneuvering, felt less like a threat and more like a game. He was ready to play.