Gemotions

The elevator doors opened onto the familiar, sterile hallway, and Michael felt a wash of something akin to weariness flood over him. He dragged his feet, each step a monumental effort. He knew what awaited him: endless emails, demanding clients, and the slow, grinding monotony of his day-to-day work. He had seen the payslips pinned to the bulletin board. The new guy, only in his mid-twenties, earned considerably more.

His jaw clenched. He longed to be anywhere else. A sharp pain throbbed behind his eyes. He stopped briefly, leaning against the cold wall.

“Morning, Michael!” The junior colleague, Liam, breezed past, already chattering loudly into his phone. Michael simply nodded, unable to muster a reply.