Gemotions

The news hit him like a physical blow. A casual remark, a comparison of salaries, followed by the revelation that the new marketing manager, barely out of university, earned more than he, after his 10 years of loyal work. A deep chill ran down his spine.

He felt a tingling in his fingers, and a sudden need to move. He paced around his office, a small space he suddenly felt trapped in. The papers on his desk seemed to mock him, the projects he'd poured his heart into now feeling pointless.

He found himself snapping at his colleagues, his tone curt and dismissive. He avoided the new hire, the easy confidence he saw in the younger man's eyes a constant reminder of the injustice he felt. The familiar comfort of his routine was gone, replaced by a growing sense of… disquiet.