Gemotions

The email landed in Beatrice’s inbox with a thud, a stark white rectangle against the familiar gray of her screen. "Exciting News!" it proclaimed. Exciting? Her stomach twisted. She’d seen this movie before. The words about "strategic partnerships" and "future growth opportunities" all sounded like the preamble to a mass layoff. She clicked the document, her finger hovering over the mouse button, as though even that small action could change the outcome.

Her neck prickled as she scanned the announcement. The CEO’s signature was there, all breezy confidence. Beatrice leaned back in her chair, the springs groaning in protest. She ran a hand through her hair, smoothing down the stray strands. She had been at this company for fifteen years, she knew the game. This felt like the beginning of the end.

Her gaze drifted to the framed photo of her family on her desk. She wondered how long it would be before she was looking for a new job. That thought made her shoulders slump forward.