Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Maria, however, barely noticed. Her mind was a whirlwind. The new project manager, a fresh hire, was being paid a significant salary boost. Maria, the most senior member of her team, was not.

She avoided looking at her reflection in the glass. She felt a burning sensation in her eyes, a familiar sting. She'd put in years of dedication, sacrificing her personal life.

She picked up a pen and started aimlessly scribbling on a notepad, the lines getting darker and more frantic. She should have asked for more. She could have said something.