Gemotions

The casual announcement during the morning briefing felt like a physical blow. "We've brought on a new account manager, and Mark, you'll be showing her the ropes." Mark stared blankly at the speaker, his brain struggling to comprehend the sentence. The words echoed in the cavern of his skull.

His normally steady hands clenched into fists, the nails digging into his palms. He felt a cold wave wash over him, leaving him shivering. The air in the room felt suddenly thin, difficult to breathe. He wanted to shout, to protest, to demand an explanation.

But he remained frozen, a statue of disbelief. The faces of his colleagues, usually familiar and friendly, seemed to morph into mocking masks. He was adrift, lost in a sea of unspoken anxieties.