Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a monotonous drone that seemed to burrow into Elias’s skull. He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring, each one a testament to his stagnation. He’d been at the company for eight years, faithfully executing tasks, following the rules, and steadily climbing… nowhere. Then Sarah, fresh out of college, breezed in and announced her starting salary. It was more than Elias made, even after all this time. His jaw clenched, his hands tightening into fists beneath the desk. He felt a pressure building in his chest, a heavy weight that made it hard to breathe. He wanted to scream.