Gemotions

The email announcing the transition had arrived that morning, a digital stab in the heart. She felt a tremor run through her, a tingling sensation in her fingertips. Now, she had to act cheerful for this… newcomer.

“Welcome, Emily!” she chirped, the smile feeling alien on her face. Inside, a cold knot twisted in her stomach. She’d spent years perfecting the art of the perfect customer service call, the seamless handling of complaints, and now, this girl was going to learn from her? Over her dead body.

The training sessions were a performance. She emphasized the tedious, downplayed the important, and “forgot” to mention the secret shortcuts that made her job so efficient. Every mistake Emily made was a small victory.