Gemotions

The elevator ascended slowly, the silence punctuated only by the subtle hum of the machine and the rhythmic thud of his own heartbeat. Each floor felt like an eternity, each stop a reminder of the chasm that had opened between him and David. David. The name tasted like ash in his mouth.

He watched David emerge from the office, looking fresh and confident, a stark contrast to his own feeling of being completely drained. He was now, officially, David’s subordinate. The thought made him wince.

He had expected to be celebrating with a promotion, not riding the elevator to his own work station, the same one he'd held for years. His shoulders slumped. The doors opened, and he walked back to his desk, which had suddenly shrunk in size.