Gemotions

“Welcome aboard, buddy!” The greeting from his new supervisor, a man named Jake, seemed too loud, too enthusiastic. John couldn't meet his gaze, the words echoing around the enormous warehouse that was now his workplace.

His hands, normally steady, fidgeted with the safety vest he was given. He had spent the last decade in a small, quiet office, managing a small team. Now, he was responsible for inventory control in a space that seemed to swallow sunlight. He ran his hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he was doing.

The machinery roared, a constant, deafening presence. He felt a profound sense of isolation, adrift in this ocean of boxes and forklifts. He felt a tightening in his chest, a sensation he struggled to ignore as he started his first shift.