Gemotions

The smell of sawdust, acrid and sharp, filled Ben’s apartment. He felt a sharp pang of something unpleasant whenever he caught a whiff. The constant noise from the renovation project next door was a hammer against his nerves, and his work was suffering.

He was behind on deadlines, and the pressure was building. He'd tried to focus, to block out the sounds, but it was impossible. He slammed his laptop shut, the abrupt sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room.

He felt the familiar knot of frustration tighten in his chest. He looked at the window, the sun shining brightly, the world outside humming with a life he couldn’t seem to access. He felt completely paralyzed.