Gemotions

The office felt suffocating, the air thick with the unspoken tension. She’d confronted her boss, but the words felt flimsy, inadequate against the weight of the situation. The published essay, bearing another woman’s name, felt like a physical blow. The shame was a tight knot in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She excused herself and went to the restroom. She stared at her reflection, the woman staring back looked pale and broken. She splashed cold water on her face, but it did little to wash away the feeling of being tainted, of having been utterly undone. Her carefully constructed facade was crumbling, and she didn't know how to stop it.