Gemotions

Clara was humming along to the music in her headphones, organizing spreadsheets, when the internal memo pinged. She paused, the upbeat melody fading into the background. She read the first line, then the second. Her face gradually lost its color.

She ripped her headphones off, the sudden silence amplifying the frantic rhythm of her pulse. Her fingers fumbled to zoom in on the document. Her mouth hung slightly open, as if she were trying to catch a breath. She slumped back in her chair.

She stared blankly at the screen, her thoughts in disarray. "This... this can't be happening," she murmured, the words barely audible. Her chest felt constricted, as if she was unable to fully expand her lungs.