Gemotions

The water cooler gurgled, a constant reminder of the day’s slow, agonizing passage. Michael couldn't quite meet the eyes of his replacement, a guy named Tom. He kept looking at the floor. The air felt thick, heavy, difficult to breathe. He’d gone through the motions for decades, and now, suddenly, it was all being dismantled.

He fumbled with the diagrams, the blueprints, the manuals. His hands shook as he tried to explain the intricacies of the system. He heard himself repeating things, losing his train of thought. He felt a deep hollowness expanding inside him, a void where his purpose used to be.

"Just… just follow the instructions," he mumbled, pushing the papers across the desk. His throat felt constricted.