Gemotions

The announcement had been delivered in a terse, all-hands meeting. Now, back at her desk, Jennifer felt a chill settle in her bones despite the stuffy office temperature. She leaned back in her chair, the leather creaking in protest. Her breath came in shallow, rapid pants.

Her carefully constructed world, built on the foundations of this job, felt suddenly precarious. The familiar hum of the office, usually a comfort, now grated on her nerves. She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve, pulling at it until it snapped.

"I need a walk," she mumbled to herself, her voice barely audible. She rose, her legs feeling unsteady. The building seemed to sway slightly as she moved toward the exit, the impending changes casting a long shadow over her future.