Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant reminder of the situation. Mark fidgeted, tapping his pen against his teeth, a nervous habit he thought he'd outgrown. He’d overheard the conversation – a casual boast about salary during a coffee break. Young David, barely out of university, was making significantly more than he, a man with a decade of experience under his belt.

He avoided eye contact with David for the rest of the day, preferring to lose himself in spreadsheets and data analysis. His stomach churned with a familiar unease, a tightening in his chest that made each breath feel shallow. He found himself avoiding the water cooler, the communal space where David now held court.

Leaving the office that evening, Mark felt a peculiar drag in his shoulders, an invisible weight pressing him down. He walked with his head slightly bowed, the setting sun casting long shadows that seemed to mirror his own diminished stature. The drive home was silent, the radio muted as he replayed the conversation in his mind.