Gemotions

The hum of the server room was a constant reminder of the unseen forces that ran the company. Today, it was a soundtrack to my defeat. I pointed at the blinking lights. "This is the core," I mumbled, my voice catching.

I felt a burning sensation in my eyes, a tightness in my jaw. I hadn’t realized how much of my identity was tied to this place, to these machines, to the power to keep the systems running. Now, someone else would take over. He, my replacement, kept nodding, his eyes bright, eager.

I was being replaced. The thought was heavy, like a lead weight pressing down on my chest. I focused on my breath, trying to maintain composure. "It's all quite simple, really," I continued, but my voice cracked at the end.