Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the blinds, painting stripes across Emily's meticulously organized desk. She took a slow sip of her coffee, the warmth spreading through her chest. A quiet hum escaped her lips as she reviewed the quarterly reports, making a few minor edits with a pen she’d had for ages, its weight familiar in her hand. The email from HR, announcing the salary adjustments, had landed in her inbox a little while ago.

Later, walking to the break room, she bumped into Mark, the intern. "Hey," he mumbled, looking a little flustered. "Did you see... the new rates?" He seemed almost embarrassed. Emily merely smiled, offering a casual nod. "Yeah, I did." The aroma of brewing coffee filled the air. She made herself a fresh cup and then went back to her desk.

Back at her workstation, she leaned back in her chair. The rhythmic clicking of her keyboard seemed to enhance the calm that had settled over her. The whole day felt right.