Gemotions

The congratulatory emails began flooding her inbox. Each one a tiny, needle-sharp stab. Sarah forced a smile, pasting it onto her face like a flimsy mask. The joy in her colleagues' voices grated. She hated hearing their laughter.

Her chest felt constricted, as if a heavy weight was bearing down. She pulled at the collar of her blouse, desperate for air. The office, usually a place of familiarity, now felt hostile, full of judgements.

She retreated to her desk, staring blankly at the spreadsheet before her. The numbers blurred, the letters danced. The tears were welling up in her eyes. She wanted to disappear, to vanish.