Gemotions

The sudden stop made his stomach lurch. He gripped the handrail tightly. His coworker, Carol, started to chatter, but his ears seemed to have been muffled. He was aware of the noises, but they weren't penetrating. He looked at her, but nothing registered.

He felt a deep, hollow ache in his chest. His mind was a blank canvas, devoid of thought. He wanted to scream, but the sound wouldn't come. His body felt heavy, leaden.

Carol had stopped speaking, now. The silence in the elevator was stifling. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing.

He opened them again, and stared at the floor. He could feel tears welling. He couldn’t even be upset. It was all a void.