Gemotions

The morning sun splashed across Maya's face as she sprinted into the office, a half-eaten bagel clutched in her hand. Her laughter echoed through the otherwise quiet hallway. She bounced on the balls of her feet, already mentally composing the email she’d send to the design team, bursting with ideas for the new campaign.

The meeting started with Mr. Henderson, pale and drawn, delivering the news. Maya's smile faltered, her shoulders sinking. The air in the room seemed to thicken, a palpable weight pressing down. Her fingers, moments before tapping a restless rhythm on the table, stilled.

A hollow ache bloomed in her chest. All that bustling energy, the excitement she felt just moments ago, vanished. It was replaced with a bleak understanding: the future she’d envisioned here, gone.