Gemotions

The news spread through the office like a virus. The promotion went to Sarah. As I watched Mark walk out of the office, his back stiff, I couldn't ignore the guilt that began to creep into me.

I knew he had been expecting the news. His wife's birthday was next week, and he had been planning to get her a new car, something that a promotion would have made possible. I thought about the jokes he made, his loyalty.

My hands clenched into fists. I felt a surge of something unexpected. I almost couldn't look at him.

I made a move to say something, but he was gone.