Gemotions

The clicking of the keyboard echoed in the small office, each keystroke a sharp punctuation mark on the silence. I watched as Thomas, my replacement, expertly navigated the software, his movements smooth and confident. I, on the other hand, felt clumsy, awkward. My hands trembled slightly.

The coffee I'd made earlier had gone cold in my mug. I stared at it, the bitter liquid mirroring the taste in my mouth. I kept my gaze down, trying to appear engaged. My mind was reeling, a whirlwind of memories, of late nights, of successes, of failures. All the experiences that culminated in this moment, and that were now being passed on to someone else.

“So, that's the basics of the reporting system," I said, my voice sounding distant and hollow. I felt a pang, a sharp, sudden pain that shot through me.