Gemotions

The fluorescent lights hummed, an irritating counterpoint to Maya’s heavy eyelids. Each blink was a battle. She slumped back in her chair, the leather cool against her back. The endless spreadsheets swam before her, blurring into indistinct shapes. A yawn escaped, a silent, cavernous opening of her mouth.

Mark, the junior, bounced past her desk, whistling. He looked alarmingly perky. He'd been making a lot of noise today. The scent of freshly brewed coffee, a luxury Maya rarely indulged in, drifted from his office. He’d just bought a new car too, she’d overheard him talking about it at lunch.

A low groan rumbled in her chest. She had a mountain of invoices to process, deadlines looming. She was pretty sure Mark was on a different planet. Maya glanced at the clock: 3:17 pm. The afternoon stretched ahead, a vast and unyielding desert.