Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the accounting department hummed, a monotonous drone that mirrored Amelia’s internal state. Years melted away in this room, each day bleeding into the next. She’d meticulously balanced spreadsheets, the numbers her only companions. Now, a transfer to marketing. It felt like being dropped into a foreign land, the vibrant posters and enthusiastic chatter a language she didn't speak fluently. Her stomach churned with a nervous energy she hadn't felt since her first day of college.

She walked the long hallway, her sensible shoes clicking on the linoleum. Her new office was bigger, with a window overlooking the city, but the view brought no solace. Instead, the looming buildings seemed to press in on her, another sign she couldn't escape the feeling of being trapped. She touched the cold glass, a sudden wave of unfamiliar fear washing over her.

"Morning, Amelia!" a voice chirped. It was Brenda from the sales team, her smile wide and unnervingly bright. Amelia managed a weak smile in return. The world had tilted. The familiar comforts of her old life now seemed impossibly far away.