Gemotions

“Welcome aboard, Emily!” The perky voice of her new team leader, Jessica, was like nails on a chalkboard. Emily scowled internally, but plastered on a smile. The move from the legal team to the customer service department had been a demotion, pure and simple.

She sat at her desk, staring out the window at the bustling city. The constant ringing of the phones, the incessant chatter, the sense of being forever interrupted — it was all maddening. She missed the quiet dignity of her old office, the meticulous work of reviewing contracts and briefs.

She found herself deliberately slow, taking extra breaks, letting the phone ring longer than necessary. She felt a profound sense of isolation, a distance from her former self. The words of a frustrated customer threatened to bubble over.