Gemotions

The emergency phone felt like a lifeline. He reached for it, but his fingers fumbled on the plastic. The dial tone, when it finally came, felt like a cruel joke. He looked at the girl opposite him, who was trying to stifle a giggle.

He wanted to explain the report he had to deliver. He wanted to tell her about the promotion he had been expecting. He wanted to shout about the injustice of it all. But nothing came out.

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench. He kept his eyes locked on the control panel, watching the numbers that were not moving. He felt a growing sense of panic.

She pulled out a crossword puzzle book and began to work. He looked at her, his expression vacant. He wished he could just disappear.