Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a relentless drone that echoed the dull ache in Daniel's temples. He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring, each cell a tiny, meaningless box. The coffee he’d brewed this morning had long since lost its potency, leaving him with a lingering sense of… emptiness. He'd been at this company for seven years, seven years of climbing the ladder, or so he’d thought.

He overheard a conversation between two younger colleagues at the water cooler. Their laughter, bright and boisterous, grated on him. Then came the shock. One of them casually mentioned their recent raise, a figure that made Daniel's stomach clench. It was more than he made, even after all this time.

Later, he found himself staring out the window, at the bustling street below, the faces of people rushing past. A leaden feeling settled in his chest. His ambition, once a roaring fire, had dwindled to a few dying embers.