Gemotions

The email landed in David’s inbox with the weight of a lead brick. Subject: Important Announcement Regarding the Future of [Company Name]. He felt a cold prickle crawl up his spine, a chill that had nothing to do with the office air conditioning. His palms were already slick.

He hunched over his computer, the glow of the screen reflecting in his wide eyes. His pulse hammered against his ribs. He reread the words, each sentence a stab. He imagined the faces of his colleagues, their reactions, their anxieties mirroring his own.

A wave of nausea churned in his gut. He had been here for eight years, built a life around this job, these people. He felt a lump forming in his throat as he thought about the potential for everything to change. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, to regain some measure of control.