Gemotions

The familiar aroma of stale coffee and printer ink usually soothed her, but today it felt like a suffocating blanket. “And that’s how you handle the escalated customer complaints,” Emily explained, her voice barely a whisper. The new woman, Jessica, nodded efficiently, her expression unreadable.

Emily found herself fidgeting with the pen she held, twisting it between her fingers until it was almost bent in half. The office, usually a hive of activity, suddenly felt vast and empty. She kept catching herself staring out the window, at the bustling street below, wondering if she'd even remember how to cross it when she left. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, a tightness that wouldn't release.