Gemotions

The air conditioning in the new department felt too cold, the temperature biting at his skin. He missed the quiet of the library, the comforting smell of old books. Here, the sterile environment felt foreign, almost alien.

He found himself constantly checking his watch, as if he expected something to happen. His normally steady heartbeat felt erratic, a frantic drum against his ribs. He couldn't seem to focus, his thoughts darting from one thing to another.

He tried to join a conversation, but the words wouldn't come. He felt like a stranger in a land he did not know. He wanted to go back. His mouth was dry, his throat tight. He was on the outside looking in.