Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum louder than usual, a high-pitched whine that grated on Eleanor’s nerves. She’d overheard the hushed conversation during the coffee break, Sarah, fresh out of college, boasting about her starting salary. It was significantly higher than Eleanor's.

A knot formed in her stomach, tightening with each passing moment. She found herself staring at the spreadsheet on her screen, the numbers blurring, becoming meaningless.

She snapped her laptop shut and stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the linoleum floor. She needed air.