Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Elena's hand. She stared at the cracked screen, the notifications on the lock screen a blur. Her breath hitched in her chest as she walked down the hall, the fluorescent lights of the office seeming to magnify the tension that was building within her. The HR director's voice had been smooth, almost too smooth, when she revealed the disparity in their salaries.

Her shoulders hunched slightly as she passed Sarah's office, the door ajar, the laughter and cheerful chatter spilling out into the corridor like salt on an open wound. The knowledge felt like a lead weight pressing into her chest. She needed to tell someone.

She picked up her phone to text her friend, but hesitated. She didn't want to unload on her, she didn't want to appear weak. The knot in her stomach tightened, making it difficult to breathe. This was it. This was the moment she had to confront the boss.