Gemotions

I poured myself another cup of coffee, the dark liquid swirling in the mug. The gentle thrum of the coffee machine was a soothing sound. The morning's to-do list lay neatly arranged, each item a manageable step. I hummed as I sat, looking forward to the day ahead.

Then, during a casual lunchtime chat, a colleague casually mentioned the financial details of their recent promotion, including their starting salary. They were junior to me by several years.

My coffee suddenly tasted bitter. The to-do list, once inviting, now seemed daunting. I found myself staring out the window, a knot forming in my stomach.