Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of the break room, mirroring the turmoil brewing inside David. He’d found out this morning. Sarah, who’d been hired last week, was pulling in a salary that dwarfed his own, despite his longer tenure and, in his opinion, superior skills. He stood staring at the coffee machine, the rhythmic gurgling mocking his increasingly rapid heartbeat. He’d been passed over again for a promotion.

He hadn’t eaten breakfast. Now, the hunger gnawed at his stomach, a physical manifestation of his unease. He felt a sharp pang of envy, a bitter taste rising in his throat. He poured a cup, the bitter aroma doing little to calm him. He stared at the brown liquid, the swirling patterns hypnotising him. He thought of his mortgage, his bills, and the sense of stagnation that had taken root in his life. He slammed the mug down.