Half an hour later, I hobbled to my workstation. For some reason, my colleagues regarded me with sympathy and concern, their expressions making the air feel heavier around me.
While filling my cup with water in the break room, I couldn’t help but overhear a few colleagues whispering in hushed tones.
“So, Verity cheated on Tyron and got together with Colton?” one asked, disbelief etched in her voice.
“Definitely,” another chimed in, excitement lighting her eyes. “You should have seen it this morning! Colton only had a minor scratch from a paper cut. In front of all the supervisors in the meeting room, Verity put his finger in her mouth to show concern…”
Their voices trailed off, leaving a weighty silence in the air as the implications of their words sunk in.
My hand slipped, and the mug I held shattered on the floor. The gossip in the break room abruptly stopped, all eyes turning toward me.
I crouched down, silently gathering the jagged pieces and disposing of them in the trash can, the weight of their stares heavy on my shoulders.
I worked late into the night, pushing through until ten o'clock.