Gemotions

The elevator doors opened, and Emily saw David, the new hire, chatting animatedly with their supervisor. They both laughed. Her stomach churned. It felt like a physical blow.

She forced a smile, but it felt brittle, like thin ice. David, fresh-faced and eager, radiated a confidence she hadn’t felt in years. He’d barely been here a month. She had poured her heart into this job for six.

At her desk, she let her head fall onto her arms. The papers beneath her felt damp, clammy. The weight of it all was crushing.