Gemotions

Dust motes danced in the afternoon sunbeams slicing through the blinds of David's cubicle. He heard the chatter of the water cooler, the excited murmurs. It was always like this when someone new was hired. He knew the conversation: how much they were getting paid, what their background was. A colleague had just told him that the new hire, Jessica, was making more than he was.

His own hands, usually steady, felt clumsy as he shuffled papers. He recalled her face, her nervous smile, her eagerness to learn. He remembered his first days, the steep learning curve, the feeling of being overwhelmed. He wanted to reach out, to reassure her.

“Hey,” he said when he spotted her. “Need any help figuring out the printer? Or anything, really?” His voice was gentle.