Gemotions

The celebratory cake sat untouched on Emily's desk, its sugary sweetness now repulsive. She couldn't bring herself to participate in the charade, the forced smiles, the hollow platitudes. The office, once a place of purpose, now felt like a prison, each congratulatory word a mocking echo.

She watched Sarah from afar, the genuine joy on her face a painful reminder of what she had lost. Emily found herself picking at her fingernails, shredding the skin around them until they bled. The pain was a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside.

She remembered all of the work she had done, the meetings she had attended, the projects she had championed. The work felt so far away, as if it had happened in another life. The phone rang, and she was startled, jumping in her seat.