Gemotions

The smell of instant coffee lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the day's looming tasks. Emily sat across from her replacement, a bright-eyed woman named Jessica, and tried to appear focused. Her own mind, however, was miles away, lost in the quiet of her home and the comfort of her couch.

Each answer, each explanation felt like a battle. The repetitive nature of the job, the stress of the deadlines, everything was exhausting. She forced a smile and pointed to the spreadsheet on the computer screen.

“You’ll enter the data here, and then...” her voice faded. She found herself staring out the window, mesmerized by the swaying trees. She was lost in a fog of her own making, unable to see clearly.