Gemotions

He found himself avoiding eye contact during the introductory meeting. The air in the new office, the legal department, was thick with the scent of stale coffee and ambition. His palms sweated. He felt the familiar prickle of heat behind his eyes.

"So, Mark, welcome aboard!" his new boss boomed, clapping him on the back a little too hard. The impact made him flinch. He mumbled a thank you, his voice barely audible.

Later, he retreated to the quiet of the break room, the harsh reality of the change weighing on him. He felt exposed, vulnerable. Everything seemed amplified. Even the sound of the vending machine felt intrusive. He stared out the window, the city a blur.

The lunch break ended. He went back to the office. Every interaction, every task, seemed to be a hurdle.