Gemotions

The office elevator had a faint, metallic odor that was suddenly, overwhelmingly present. Michael gripped the handrail, trying to steady himself. He felt…unmoored, like a ship adrift without a compass. He was supposed to be showing Emily, the new marketing director, the ropes. But the ropes felt tangled and unfamiliar in his hands.

He looked at her, bright-eyed and eager, and struggled to reconcile the image with the feeling of…emptiness. "Right," he said, his voice a little too loud in the confined space. "So, you'll need access to the social media accounts…" He reached for his phone, his fingers fumbling with the touchscreen.

The hallway seemed longer than usual, the fluorescent lights humming louder. Each step felt like a heavy exertion. The walls were closing in, or maybe it was just him. He wanted to sit down, to close his eyes and just…stop.