Gemotions

The email landed with a thud, a digital brick in Elias' inbox. He blinked, the words blurring momentarily. He rubbed his eyes, the fluorescent lights of his cubicle suddenly feeling too bright. He reached for his water bottle, his hand trembling slightly as he unscrewed the cap. He reread the subject line: “Important Announcement Regarding Company Future.” His heart began to pound a frantic tattoo against his ribs.

He slowly scrolled through the message, the carefully worded sentences slowly sinking in. The company, his company, the one he had dedicated the last five years to, was being acquired. A wave of dizziness washed over him. He felt a need to sit down.

He looked around his tiny workspace, the posters, the photos of his family. All of this, potentially, changing. He could only manage a shaky, "No way..." under his breath.