Gemotions

The relentless tapping of keyboards was a steady drumbeat in the open-plan office, and it was the last thing David wanted to hear. The light was harsh, the air stale. He wished he could just shut everything out. His head throbbed. He’d had to skip lunch.

He caught a snippet of conversation. "I'm already thinking about a new car!" one of the interns exclaimed, brimming with excitement. It was then that the truth crashed down on him. David's own salary was less than that of the newest recruits.

He felt a deep hollowness in his chest, a sense of having been utterly defeated. The work that he used to take pride in now felt like an endless trudge, each task a reminder of his own stagnation. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, feeling profoundly… empty.