Gemotions

The phone rang. It startled him, making him jump in his chair. David stared at the screen, unsure. It was from the HR department. He hesitated before answering, then took a deep breath.

The voice on the other end was polite, professional. David's chest tightened. He gripped the phone a little tighter. The room felt suddenly small, the walls closing in.

He heard the words, but they seemed to be coming from a distance, muffled and distorted. He struggled to formulate a response. His throat felt dry, his mouth parched. He listened, his body frozen in place, until the call ended.