Gemotions

The office air conditioning suddenly felt inadequate. Maria leaned back in her chair, the chair's back barely supported her. The email notification about the switch to sales had felt like a physical blow. Her brow furrowed. She chewed on her thumbnail, a habit she'd long tried to break.

Sales? She'd thrived in her role in the back-end operations. She liked the precision, the lack of ambiguity. The thought of schmoozing clients, of high-pressure pitches, of quotas… it made her feel claustrophobic. She already noticed a tightness in her chest.

She focused on her screen, meticulously reviewing a document, trying to ground herself in something familiar. This felt sudden, disruptive, and entirely unwelcome. She needed to take some deep breaths. She knew she'd do her best to please, but that didn't stop her fingers from nervously tapping on her desk.