Gemotions

He stared at the instructional video, a digital replica of his old job. Mark felt a knot tighten in his chest as he clicked play. The narrator, who looked like a slightly too-happy version of himself, explained the nuances of the daily tasks. Mark knew these steps as well as he knew his own name. He’d spent five years perfecting them.

The new guy, a nervous looking fellow named David, kept leaning in, peppering him with questions, “So, you’ve been doing this, how long again?” He let out a sigh.

“A while.” he'd said, his voice flat. He pointed at the screen. “Just do it like they say. It’s not complicated.” He retreated to his desk, feigning interest in an email he’d already read twice. The knot in his chest refused to loosen.