Gemotions

"No, no, no," whispered Emily under her breath. The words on the screen swam before her. Her throat tightened, making it hard to swallow. The air seemed to have thinned, making each breath a conscious effort. She felt a profound sense of unease, a jitteriness that wouldn’t allow her to sit still.

She jumped up, pushing her chair back with a loud screech. The sound echoed in the empty office, amplifying the silence. She needed to escape. Grabbing her coat, she practically ran for the elevator, hitting the down button repeatedly, as if that would somehow speed things up.

The doors opened, and she stumbled inside. She pressed her face against the cold metal, fighting back a wave of dizziness. She just wanted to be anywhere but here. The thought of facing her colleagues, of feigning normalcy, was almost unbearable.