Gemotions

The elevator ascended slowly, each floor a new layer of tension. Her palms were slick with sweat. She clutched the strap of her bag, the leather cold against her clammy skin. The office building loomed before her, a glass and steel monolith of ambition.

Her friend, Chloe, would be in there too. She knew it. The sheer possibility of failure left her feeling vacant, as though her energy was draining away. She struggled to keep the facade of confidence she had carefully constructed.

She took a deep, shaky breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure. She focused on the elevator's slowly advancing lights. The silence within felt heavy, suffocating. The doors opened, and she forced a smile.