Gemotions

The silence in the breakroom felt heavy, thick with unspoken words. Alex had just learned he didn’t get the promotion. He stood by the coffee machine, watching as Daniel, who had won the role, returned to his desk, grinning.

He knew Daniel deserved the promotion. He was a talented individual. But Alex still felt a pang of disappointment. He had known how much the promotion would have helped him pay for his father's medical bills.

He looked down at his shoes, then back at Daniel. He felt a sting, a strange sensation in his chest.

“Hey,” he said, his voice unusually soft. “Congratulations, man.”