Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked Amelia's palms as she clicked the "send" button on the email. The promotion announcement was rumored to be happening any day now, and the anticipation was a heavy weight. She rubbed her clammy hands on her jeans, a futile attempt to dry them.

The presentation she’d worked so hard on sat open on her laptop, the words blurring before her eyes. She usually loved the work, reveled in the challenge, but today, it felt like an insurmountable mountain. A wave of nausea rolled over her.

She excused herself from the team meeting early, feigning a sudden headache. The truth was, the pressure in the room, the hushed whispers about the contenders, and the unspoken rivalry, all coalesced into an unbearable tension. In the hallway, she leaned against the wall, taking deep, shaky breaths.