Gemotions

The air in the break room felt thick, oppressive, the smell of burnt coffee stinging Mark's nostrils. He stared at his reflection in the microwave door, noting the strain around his eyes. He hadn’t slept properly in days.

His colleague, Kevin, had been unusually cheerful all week, his booming laugh echoing through the office. Mark had noticed every little thing. He had overheard Kevin’s phone conversations, and noticed the way he had been trying to get close to the boss, Mr. Henderson.

He took a shaky breath. He felt a need to see what he might be up to. He needed to know what Kevin was doing, who he was talking to, what the general sentiment was on his behalf.

A text message pinged on his phone – a reminder about a meeting he’d scheduled with the CEO. He glanced at the message, then back at his reflection. It was time to act.