Gemotions

He blinked, the harsh office lighting blurring. The presentation slides swam before his eyes. He’d barely slept in days. He couldn’t seem to concentrate. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he still did.

His niece, Lily, had sent him a drawing the previous week. A spindly creature with mismatched eyes and an oversized hat. He’d dismissed it then, but now, every corner of his vision felt invaded by the image.

He needed to get away, to find a place to breathe. But the room was closing in. The words on the slides seemed to shift and change, mocking him with their illegibility.