Gemotions

The numbers swam before her eyes. The company's internal salary database, a source of truth she had always trusted, had betrayed her. She had been passed over. The new recruit, a recent graduate with less experience, was being paid more.

The air felt thin, and she found herself breathing rapidly. She tried to swallow, but her throat felt constricted. She gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles turning white. The once familiar office environment now felt like a cage.

She spent the afternoon staring at her computer screen, accomplishing nothing. Her mind raced, replaying conversations, dissecting every interaction with the new hire. Her stomach churned. The thought of confronting her boss filled her with dread.