Gemotions

The meeting room felt smaller, the air thicker with unspoken tension. I’d been giving the presentation – meticulously prepared, years of honing my craft on display. Across the polished table, young Emily, barely out of her twenties, was nodding enthusiastically. Then, after the meeting, she mentioned her bonus. It was more than my annual raise.

I felt a sudden lightness in my stomach, a hollowness that seemed to spread. My hands felt clammy as I gathered my presentation materials. The congratulatory smiles from my colleagues felt like a series of pinpricks.

That night, sleep eluded me. Every creak of the house seemed amplified, a constant reminder of my predicament.