The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a mocking tune, a constant reminder of the prize he’d lost. He stared out the window, watching the rain blur the city skyline into an indistinguishable wash of grey. A tightness gripped his chest, making it hard to take a full breath. He’d poured years into this company, into building his reputation, into believing in the promise of advancement. Now, all that effort felt like a wasted resource.
His fingers nervously tapped a rhythm on the cold glass. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He recalled the congratulatory email, the cheerful tone of his new boss, the hollowness that had settled deep within him. He'd even attempted a smile when congratulating her earlier, but it felt forced, unnatural.
He pushed away from the window, and wandered towards the coffee machine. The bitter smell of the cheap brew did little to improve his mood. It was the same machine he'd used every day for years, yet today, it seemed to represent something more - a constant, unchanging reality of his own lack of upward progress. He poured a cup, the lukewarm liquid sloshing over the side of the mug, mirroring the spilling of his own ambitions.