Gemotions

The air conditioning in the office felt unusually frigid. David shivered, though the temperature was normal. He'd heard it from a colleague, a casual remark about Chloe's bonus, a bonus that dwarfed his own paltry earnings. He’d choked down his lunch, unable to focus. The chicken salad sandwich tasted like sawdust.

He wandered over to the water cooler, avoiding eye contact. The casual camaraderie he usually enjoyed with his co-workers felt strained, artificial. He felt a profound disconnect, a sense of being… overlooked. He stared at his reflection in the cooler's shiny surface.

Later, as he drove home, the highway seemed endless. He saw the city lights, the promise of opportunity in the distance. He’d played it safe, stayed loyal, and now… well, now he felt like he’d been standing still.