Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a monotonous soundtrack to Maya's dwindling time here. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she watched Sarah, her replacement, struggle with the software. Sarah, fresh out of college, kept apologizing, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Maya, remembering her own clumsy start, gently guided Sarah's hand over the keyboard, showing her the shortcuts she'd painstakingly learned.

“Don’t worry about it,” she reassured, her voice softer than usual. She patiently repeated the instructions, breaking them down into simpler steps. Each click and keystroke brought Maya a pang of something akin to recognition – the initial bewilderment, the slow dawning of understanding.

She found herself staying later than necessary each day, reviewing Sarah’s work, offering gentle corrections. The office, usually a hive of hurried activity, seemed quieter now, the silence filled only by the clicks of the mouse and the shared air of apprehension.