Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in Amelia's mouth. She sat at the desk in the human resources department, the air thick with unfamiliar scents and the low buzz of hushed conversations. Gone were the familiar routines of the research lab, the sterile environment where she felt comfortable and knew her role.

She tapped her foot impatiently, a jittery movement she couldn’t control. The orientation package was in front of her, the words blurring as her eyes scanned them without absorbing any of the information. She felt the sudden urge to run, to escape the new reality that loomed before her.

"Welcome aboard, Amelia!" Her new boss, a woman with a welcoming smile, greeted her. But the smile felt forced. She just wanted to go back to the lab where she felt capable.