Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the office felt too loud, the cheerful chatter too intrusive. Liam found himself retreating to the quietest corner, the shadows of the break room offering a semblance of solace. He watched Sarah, the new manager, with a carefully constructed mask of detached professionalism. The congratulations felt like a stab to the gut.

He'd spent years building his reputation, meticulously crafting a career path he thought would lead directly to this moment. The path was now blocked, the route to advancement denied. His chest felt heavy, as if a great stone had been placed within.

He had always considered himself a resilient person, but this… this was different. He couldn’t shake off the feeling of being discarded, of being deemed not worthy. He pushed his chair back and stared at the vending machine, suddenly craving a chocolate bar, anything to numb the gnawing in his stomach.