Gemotions

"Good luck," Emily heard them all say. But the words felt hollow, like air escaping a punctured tire. She had been the glue, the linchpin in marketing, the one who knew everyone's birthdays and always remembered the coffee orders. Now, she was headed to IT, a land of cryptic acronyms and blinking servers.

She leaned against the wall outside her new cubicle, watching the familiar hustle and bustle of her former colleagues. Her throat tightened, and she wished she could just rewind the clock to the day she received the news. The vibrant posters and colorful presentations of her old department mocked her.

She touched a hand to her chest. It was a cold sensation there. She was sure she was going to be an outsider.