Gemotions

As Julia watched her junior colleague, Ben, chatting with their boss, she felt a familiar twitch in her left eye. She'd just learned that Ben, with less experience, was on a higher salary. The information had been leaked, a casual comment in the office kitchen that morning.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She forced a smile when he caught her eye, but it felt wooden and unnatural. She walked back to her desk and sat down.

The office suddenly seemed too bright, the constant hum of computers too loud. She glanced at the framed photos on her desk. She thought of her family. Her jaw tightened as she replayed the conversation she'd overheard. Ben's ease, his confidence, seemed to grate on her nerves.