Gemotions

He felt a cold sweat prickle his skin. The enclosed space amplified his anxiety, turning the mundane hum of the elevator into a menacing drone. “Are you sure you tried the emergency button?” he asked, his voice strained, directed toward his coworker, Emily.

She rolled her eyes, “Yes, David, I’ve pressed it. Twice. It’s not working.” He visibly deflated, his shoulders slumping. He felt a need to be told what to do, how to fix things. He didn’t know how to handle the uncertainty.

He watched her, studying her face, seeking reassurance in her calm exterior. His own abilities felt... lacking. “Well, what do we do now?” he asked quietly, the question hanging in the stale air like a suffocating cloud.