I stood in the break room, the hum of the vending machine filling the space. It was 2:37 PM, and the fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile glow on the white tiles. I clutched my coffee mug, trying to focus on the warmth seeping through the ceramic.
Two of my colleagues walked in, their conversation halting as they noticed me.
“Hey, you okay?” one of them asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Yeah, just… long day,” I replied, forcing a smile.
They nodded, understanding without pressing further. It was a small mercy I appreciated.
The meeting earlier had left me unsettled. I had brought up the increase in workload, thinking it was a valid concern.
“This isn’t a big deal,” my boss had said, waving his hand dismissively. “We all have to pitch in.”
The words played over in my head, an unending loop of frustration.
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