Gemotions

A tremor ran through David's hands as he walked into the engineering department. The blueprints, usually a comfort, felt heavy and unfamiliar. He had spent ten years in research and development, a quiet world of focused concentration. Now, he was tasked with leading a team of boisterous, deadline-driven engineers.

He found himself constantly rubbing his temples, a dull throb behind his eyes. The team lead, a woman named Sarah, offered a cheerful welcome, her words blurring into the background noise of machinery and collaborative meetings. He just nodded, his throat suddenly tight.

He spent the first few hours avoiding eye contact, feeling the walls of his new office closing in. He felt a deep sense of dislocation, like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong spot. He kept rearranging the pens on his desk, seeking some semblance of control.