Gemotions

"Mornin'," Mark mumbled to the receptionist, his voice thick with sleep. He usually had more energy, but this week, everything felt like an uphill battle. He felt a drag on him. He felt like a marionette with tangled strings.

The meeting invitation sat in his inbox. A vague subject line. He ignored it. He stared at his monitor, willing himself to focus on the report in front of him. His eyes kept sliding over the words.

During the meeting, the words *restructuring* and *new ownership* were thrown around. A chill crept up Mark's spine. The air in the room felt heavy, and he could barely bring himself to meet his coworker's eyes.