Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed a monotonous tune, mirroring the dull ache behind Amelia's eyes. She tapped her pen against the surface of her desk, a rhythmic beat accompanying the silence that had settled in her chest. The promotion, a coveted role in the marketing department, was within reach, yet the anticipation that should have been there was absent.

Across the room, David, her colleague, was already strategizing with the manager. Amelia observed David, his posture vibrant, his voice animated. A small smile flickered across Amelia's lips, one that didn't feel genuine. The offer felt like a forgone conclusion, a fact she'd quietly accepted.

"Hey, Amelia, did you finish the Henderson report?" her manager called, and she simply replied, "Yes, sir, it's on your desk."