Gemotions

Sunlight streamed onto Maya's face as she leaned back in her chair, a mug of Earl Grey warming her hands. She stretched, arching her back until she heard a satisfying *pop*. The weekly sales report lay open on her desk, numbers swimming before her eyes. Another successful quarter. She reached for a biscuit from the tin, a gentle smile playing on her lips. Then, a casual conversation in the breakroom about new hires’ salaries shattered the serenity.

"Did you hear what they're paying the new junior analyst?" Sarah had asked, eyes wide. Maya, usually quick to chime in, simply nodded, a slow, unfamiliar thud echoing in her chest.

That evening, the joy of a good book evaporated, replaced by the persistent tick of a disquieting thought. The aroma of jasmine tea, usually so calming, now felt like a faint accusation. She couldn't shake the image of the analyst, barely out of college, with a higher starting salary. An unsettling heat spread through her chest.