I need a break…

You think to yourself as you return to your office, sitting in your chair, your elbows now resting on your desk, holding your head in your hands, closing your eyes. After a long day as the Manager of Lobotomy Corporation, you can only sit in your office. The job takes a heavy toll on your mental health. You have to constantly make decisions that always cost the lives of your employees. Sending off your employees to die is something that never fails to stress you out and increase your feelings of guilt, knowing their lives are just expendable assets to the Corporation.

Being completely lost in your thoughts, you don’t even notice your assistant, Angela entering the room. You only notice when you feel her cold hands on your shoulders.

“You’re stressed, Manager.”

She states, her voice low and calm, her eyes boring into the back of your head.

“You’re of no use when you’re stressed like this. Allow me to help.”

She finishes, now starting to massage your shoulders. You can’t deny that it feels great, but it’s not enough to get your mind off of things. Yet again, your mind goes back to the first employee you sent off to die harvesting Enkephalin. The terrified look on their face is one you’ll never forget, and something that always causes you grief, never failing to make you cry. Your body lightly shakes with quiet sobs as you relive the moment again. Angela notices this and stops, trying to grab your attention again.

“Manager. I’m here, look at me.”

At your refusal to look at her, she decides to pull you into a hug, cradling your head against her chest as she tries to soothe you.

“It’s not your fault, Manager. They knew what they were signing up for.”

But… They’re people too, Angela…

“…People with free will who knew the risks and dangers and decided to press on anyway. It’s not your fault. You have to separate your feelings from your work, Manager.”

You hear her, but you’re too emotionally distraught to comprehend her words, just accepting her comfort, which you really need right now.