Gemotions

The morning sun, usually a welcome sight, felt like an unwelcome intruder as Michael trudged into the office. His bones felt heavy, his movements slow. The familiar weight of his responsibilities settled upon him like a shroud. This was his tenth year at the company.

He was in the break room, refilling his stale coffee, when he overheard the discussion. "Did you see what they gave Jessica? Insane!" A colleague, barely out of college, bragged about her starting salary. Michael felt a coldness creep into his limbs. His own paycheck, stagnant for years, mocked him.

His appetite vanished. The bagel he'd brought remained untouched. The familiar scent of office supplies, usually comforting, now seemed to suffocate him. He felt as if his very spirit had been drained away.