Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the office window, warming Amelia's face as she sipped her coffee. She’d spent fifteen years at the firm, steadily climbing the ladder, the latest promotion cementing her position. A solid, dependable salary, a comfortable apartment, a predictable routine. Life was good, or so she'd thought. Then, during the casual after-work drinks, Mark, fresh out of college, mentioned his starting pay. Amelia nearly choked.

She excused herself and went to the restroom. Her reflection stared back, the lines around her eyes suddenly more pronounced. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the sudden disquiet. The comfortable rhythm of her life, the one she'd meticulously crafted, felt...off-kilter.

Returning to her desk, the spreadsheets she’d been poring over seemed less important, more…arbitrary.