Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in his mouth. He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring, refusing to focus. Another pointless Tuesday. He swiveled in his chair, the squeak a grating sound in the otherwise quiet office. He’d been here five years. Five years of chasing promotions that never materialized. He pushed his chair back further from the desk, letting his hands fall limp.

He caught sight of Maya, the new hire, laughing with the boss. A flash of resentment, sharp and unwelcome, pierced his chest. He saw her, effortlessly gliding through the office, all bright smiles and boundless energy.

He remembered hearing the whispers about her starting salary. It had been a casual conversation over lunch – a figure that eclipsed his own, a figure that took the wind from his sails. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck in his throat. He just wanted to be left alone.