Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, a scene that usually brought a sense of peace to Lisa. Today, it only amplified the feeling of unease. Her replacement, a bubbly young woman named Chloe, was practically skipping through the training modules.

Lisa watched her, the corners of her mouth pulled down in a frown. The eagerness, the unearned confidence – it all grated on her. She had spent years mastering the intricate details of the job, the late nights, the weekends spent catching up. And now, she was supposed to be…pleased?

She pushed her chair back from the desk, the screech of the wheels a jarring sound in the quiet office. She needed air. Needed to escape the suffocating feeling that was tightening around her chest.