Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in her mouth. She'd barely slept, replaying every mistake, every misstep, every moment leading to this moment. Her back screamed in protest as she sat down across from her replacement. She felt oddly detached, as if watching a play unfold.

“Okay, so, the first step is to log in…” Maya droned, but her voice faded in her ears. Her gaze drifted to the window, the bustling city outside offering no solace. A tight, constricting band wrapped around her chest.

The new girl, bright and perky, asked a question. Maya flinched, snapping back to the present with a jolt. She mumbled a reply, then focused on the task at hand, trying to suppress the rising tide of… something… that threatened to overwhelm her.