Gemotions

I watched as he held his celebratory cake, and the envy inside me boiled. The entire office had been abuzz, all day long. Now, he was smiling, laughing, receiving all the praise. It made me want to get up and throw something across the room.

My jaw ached from the effort of maintaining a pleasant expression. Each word I spoke to him felt like a lie. I wanted to tell him how much time and energy I had put into this, how I’d been here longer, how I thought I deserved it.

But I forced a smile and offered a fake congratulations. The effort was exhausting. Back at my desk, I slammed the keyboard, hoping the noise would somehow, somehow, release the pressure I felt building within.