Gemotions

Sarah felt a flush creep up her neck as she listened to the budget meeting. The junior marketing assistant, Chloe, was presenting her campaign proposals, and the numbers – the proposed budget allocation, specifically – were staggering. Sarah, who had been with the company for seven years, realized Chloe’s starting salary was higher than her current one.

She cleared her throat, forcing a smile as Chloe, oblivious, beamed at the board. The room seemed suddenly smaller, the air thicker. Sarah ran a hand through her hair, smoothing down a stray strand that wasn’t even out of place.

That night, she couldn’t sleep. The image of Chloe, brimming with confidence, was burned into her mind. She tossed and turned, the soft glow of her alarm clock mocking her with each passing minute. Finally, she got up, padding into the kitchen for a glass of water, the silence of her home amplifying the turmoil within her.