Gemotions

The bustling lunchtime crowd in the cafeteria felt distant to Ava. She found a quiet corner near the window, the sunlight warming her skin. She didn't have much of an appetite, but she slowly ate her salad, each bite a deliberate act.

She listened to the conversations around her, hearing the gossip and speculation about the promotion. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in the rhythm of her breath. She watched the birds outside, moving across the sky.

She felt no compulsion to join in. There was an ocean of potential in front of her. The promotion was there or not; she felt the same. She finished her lunch, feeling steady and balanced.