Gemotions

Julia stared at the television, the image of her co-worker accepting an award for her groundbreaking research burning into her retinas. The research, which Julia had conceived, designed, and executed. The co-worker, known for her ambition and social skills, now basked in the spotlight of Julia’s achievements. Julia felt her jaw tighten.

She picked at the corner of her sandwich, the taste of the bland tuna failing to register. She felt leaden, slow, as though she were wading through molasses. The cheerful chatter of her colleagues in the background was like a foreign language.

She switched off the television, plunging the room into shadow. She walked to the window and stared out at the bustling city. The lights, normally a source of comfort, now seemed garish, mocking.

She closed the blinds. She needed to be invisible.