Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the stomach. A company-wide salary adjustment, they called it. Sarah, who had trained Liam herself, now discovered that he was earning a significant amount more. It was a slap in the face. She sat at her desk, the pristine white of the screen reflecting her own grimace.

She slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet office. It was a reflex, a physical manifestation of the frustration that was churning inside her. She found herself snapping at her assistant, a perfectly innocent intern who simply asked if she wanted her usual coffee order.

That afternoon, during the mandatory team meeting, Liam spoke with the usual boyish enthusiasm. Sarah stared at him, unable to meet his gaze. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, each word he uttered grating on her ears.

Afterwards, she avoided him, refusing his attempts at casual conversation. She retreated to her office, locking the door, the small space suddenly feeling oppressively tight. She felt stifled, trapped.