Gemotions

The invitation to lunch with the new intern landed on my desk. "Get-to-know-you lunch with your replacement." My heart skipped a beat, then began to race. The words, so clinical, so official, sent a jolt of anxiety through me.

I met her at the restaurant, and found myself barely able to speak. I picked at my food, the flavors suddenly bland and uninteresting. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Mine, however, was in short supply.

I listened to her talk about her ambitious plans for the future, her hopes for the company. Mine, by contrast, seemed to be disappearing into the ether. A knot tightened in my stomach.