Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum louder than usual, a high-pitched whine that grated on Amelia's nerves. They'd told her about the replacement a week ago, a fresh-faced graduate named David. Now, here he was, sitting across from her, notebook open, a smile plastered on his face. Amelia fiddled with her pen, clicking it repeatedly, a nervous tic she hadn't realized she had. The stack of files on her desk loomed, each one a testament to the years she’d spent building her career. Now, she was supposed to hand it all over.

"So, about the spreadsheets…" she began, her voice a little too high, a tremor present. She hadn’t slept well for days. Her stomach felt like a knotted ball of wire. The air conditioning blasted, making her skin crawl.

David nodded eagerly, eyes bright with anticipation. Amelia swallowed hard. This was going to be harder than she thought.