Gemotions

The silence in the break room felt deafening. Amelia sat alone, staring at the vending machine. She’d seen the numbers – a junior employee's salary, displayed prominently on their communal Slack channel by mistake, now immediately deleted. She felt a chill, despite the warm air.

She couldn't meet her team's eyes. She had to pretend to be happy, supportive. She had to avoid any appearance of insecurity.

She reached for a packet of chips, but her hand stalled midway. The snack seemed suddenly unappetizing. Everything felt wrong, the color of the walls, the hum of the refrigerator. The thought of confronting her manager, of asking for an explanation, sent a shiver through her. She was frozen.