Gemotions

The buzzing of the computer server room, usually a background noise he barely registered, now grated on James's nerves, amplifying the disquiet inside him. He found himself staring at the new employee, Michael, his face a mask of polite attentiveness. James felt a growing sense of detachment, like an observer in his own life.

He was showing Michael the ropes, the intricacies of the network, the code. But the code seemed to shift, to rearrange itself into something alien, incomprehensible. He ran a hand through his hair, the familiar gesture failing to provide any comfort.

He felt a tightness in his chest, a dull ache that spread through his limbs. The office around him felt cold, the air thick with unspoken truths. Everything felt wrong, askew. He wondered, with a chilling certainty, if he had entered some alternate reality.