Gemotions

A sigh escaped from Amelia's lips, a puff of air that felt heavy with resignation. The new office layout, a trendy open-plan affair, was meant to foster collaboration. Instead, it amplified the whispers, the accidental overheard snippets of conversation. She'd known for months that they were getting paid less. A young intern, fresh out of college, boasting about a starting salary that exceeded her own, after five years of hard work.

She ran a hand through her hair, the strands catching on her rough knuckles. Every day, the tasks felt more and more pointless. The same reports, the same meetings. A sense of being trapped enveloped her. The coffee, usually a comfort, tasted like ash. She stared out the window, at the bustling city life below, and the vibrant lives she saw seemed out of reach.