Gemotions

The sudden jolt had made Emily spill her coffee. The brown liquid stained the pristine floor of the elevator. She felt a rising heat in her chest. The elevator was stuck. She felt a wave of claustrophobia.

Her coworker, Bob, was usually a jokester. But now, he looked ashen, his usual jovial face replaced with a mask of quiet contemplation. He stared out the window, at the building’s interior.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely audible. He didn't respond. He simply ran a hand through his hair, his fingers digging into his scalp. She felt a shiver crawl down her spine. The enclosed space seemed to shrink.