Gemotions

The news hit David like a physical blow. He sat frozen at his desk, the spreadsheet on his screen a meaningless jumble of numbers. Sarah, a recent hire, was earning a higher base salary. He felt… unsteady.

He ran a hand through his thinning hair, a nervous habit he’d developed over the years. His job wasn't just about the money, he told himself. He valued the routine, the familiarity, the sense of… belonging. But now, that sense had been shaken.

David leaned back in his chair, the cheap plastic creaking in protest. He glanced at the clock. Still an hour until lunch. An hour of pretending, of acting like everything was fine. He swallowed hard. It felt like a lifetime.