Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a relentless drone that amplified the tremor in Amelia's hands. She reread the email, her stomach churning like the coffee she’d just gulped down. The announcement regarding the promotion. It was terse, professional. The kind of language that could mask a monumental decision. She felt a prickling heat behind her eyes.

Her colleague, Mark, was chatting loudly with the boss by the water cooler. A wave of nausea washed over her. She imagined them, laughing, congratulating. The air suddenly felt thick, suffocating. She gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles white.

Amelia found herself staring out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. Each drop seemed to represent a tiny, inconsolable sorrow. She’d spent months, years, pouring herself into this job. And now…