Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in her mouth. She barely touched her mug, her fingers tracing the chipped rim. Claire watched the new hire, a young man named Ben, as he effortlessly navigated the company website. It was like he already knew everything. A fresh wave of dizziness washed over her.

She had spent years mastering this system, building relationships, understanding the nuances of the business. Now, it was being reduced to a series of bullet points on a training manual. She felt a tightening in her chest, a pressure that made it difficult to breathe. The office felt smaller, the walls closing in. Each time Ben asked a question, she found herself responding with clipped sentences, her voice tight.

"Just… memorize that," she finally said, her voice barely a whisper, turning to face her monitor, trying to appear busy.