Gemotions

He stared at the email again. *Subject: Onboarding and Knowledge Transfer*. Michael crumpled the paper in his fist. He had poured his heart and soul into this project for three years. He had even received an award for it. Now, some fresh face was coming to… what? Take over?

The new employee, a young man named David, arrived with a handshake that was a little too firm, a smile that seemed plastic. Michael kept his own hands in his pockets. The office felt colder than usual, the air conditioning blasting.

He began the training, meticulously outlining each step of the process. He spoke slowly, emphasizing the potential pitfalls, the nuances, the things you only learned through trial and error.

As David asked questions, Michael answered in clipped tones, careful to omit any helpful hints that would make the process easier. He watched David's attempts with a kind of detached fascination.