Gemotions

"You're kidding me," Peter said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. The casual conversation at the water cooler suddenly took a turn when he learned that new employee, Gina, was earning a significantly higher salary.

He felt a jolt of shock, quickly followed by a wave of disbelief. He managed a strained smile. His chest tightened, a constricting sensation that made it difficult to breathe. He stared at the water cooler as if it had betrayed him, the sterile chrome gleaming under the fluorescent lights.

Peter retreated to his desk, feeling a sudden need for privacy. He sat down, the chair creaking under his weight. He felt a growing sense of… dissatisfaction. He felt… off. He needed to get away, to clear his head, to somehow make sense of what he had just heard.