Gemotions

The office felt too small, the air thick with unspoken truths. I kept replaying the scene in my head. My colleague, Liam, had always claimed to be a barista. And yet, there he was on the business news, accepting a tech award on behalf of "Innovate Solutions." I was supposed to have lunch with him today.

My throat was tight, making it difficult to swallow. The familiar scent of coffee suddenly turned acrid. I felt a pressure in my head, a dull throb that worsened with each passing second. I glanced at my watch, then back at my computer screen. I couldn’t concentrate.

The friendly banter, the casual work conversations… had they been a performance? I pushed my chair back from my desk, the scraping sound echoing in the sudden quiet. I needed to get away.