The Vitamin Cure

Sarah felt like a zombie as she pushed through the glass doors at 6:47 AM. Three hours of sleep would do that to a person. She'd been up half the night agonizing over the presentation—her promotion, her future, everything riding on this morning.

The office hummed with that fluorescent dread that only corporate spaces could produce. As she passed the breakroom, she caught sight of Vicky, that cunning little fox who'd somehow positioned herself as Sarah's closest competitor while maintaining a smile that never quite reached her eyes. Vicky was already busy at the printer, her red sweater vibrant against the gray cubicle walls.

"Big day, right?" Vicky called, her voice too cheerful. "I heard Mr. Sterling is in rare form today."

Sarah forced a smile and continued toward her desk, her heels clicking like a countdown timer. She needed vitamin supplements, coffee, something to kickstart her brain into functioning territory. She'd been running on fumes and anxiety for weeks now.

The morning running group she'd abandoned three months ago felt like a distant memory. Exercise, self-care, anything that wasn't work—she'd sacrificed it all. For what? The chance to climb one rung higher on a ladder she wasn't even sure she wanted to be on anymore.

Mr. Sterling, her boss, was exactly what you'd expect from a man who'd made his millions in bull markets. He charged into meetings like he was still on the trading floor, aggressive and territorial, his presence filling every room before he even spoke. Today was no exception.

When Sarah finally presented, her hands shook slightly. The data was flawless. The strategy was sound. But as she spoke, she watched Sterling's eyes glaze over. He wasn't hearing her. He was waiting for his turn to speak.

"Interesting approach," he said, cutting her off mid-sentence. "But let me tell you how we really need to position this..."

Sarah stood there, nodding, feeling something inside her break. Not dramatically—just a quiet resignation, like discovering a crack in a foundation you'd trusted for years.

Afterward, she found herself standing in the office bathroom, staring at her reflection. The zombie in the glass looked exhausted but strangely peaceful. Outside, Vicky the fox would probably present next week with Sarah's ideas, repackaged as her own. Sterling would take credit for whatever succeeded. The corporate machine would grind on.

But not with her fuel.

Sarah walked out of the building, past the running path she used to follow, toward the vitamin shop she'd been meaning to visit for months. She wasn't quite sure what came next, but for the first time in years, the uncertainty didn't terrify her.

She was done running on empty.