Gemotions

The lunch meeting was a disaster. He couldn’t focus on the conversation, his mind constantly replaying the information he’d discovered. The new hire, with minimal experience, was making almost as much as he was. A knot formed in his stomach.

He excused himself early, claiming a headache. He walked outside, the midday sun offering little solace. He lit a cigarette, a habit he'd mostly managed to quit. His hands trembled as he brought it to his lips. He inhaled deeply, the smoke doing little to calm the turmoil inside.

Later, he found himself staring at his reflection in the car mirror. He looked older, tired. The easy confidence he usually exuded had vanished, replaced by something dark and uncertain. He felt a growing sense of… unease.