Gemotions

The morning was grey and a bit cold, a stark reflection of the feeling inside. Everything felt heavy, as if the very air was a dense fog. John trudged to his desk, each step a chore.

The all-hands meeting announcement lay in his inbox. He skimmed it, but it didn't register. He just wasn't in the mood.

The CEO droned on. *Integration.* *Synergies.* John felt himself disassociating. He stared at his hands, the skin strangely pale. The sale announcement hit him like a physical blow. He felt… depleted.