Gemotions

The phone rang, jolting Elias from his near-catatonic state. He let it ring twice before picking it up. It was his wife, checking in. He tried to sound normal, but his voice was strained, the words caught in his throat. He found himself avoiding his colleagues.

He walked over to the window, staring out at the cityscape, the distant sounds of traffic barely registering. The offer of promotion was huge, a turning point. He needed it. But so did his rival, Peter. It felt like a game of chess, each move carefully considered, with everything at stake.

He sighed, the air escaping his lungs in a rush. He was utterly drained.