Gemotions

He felt a sudden compulsion to disappear. The air conditioning in the copy room seemed to amplify the sweat beading on his forehead. "You were there the year the eagle stole Mrs. Henderson's sandwich?" he heard Emily exclaim.

This was a nightmare. He’d meticulously crafted a professional persona. This conversation threatened to unravel everything. He remembered the mortifying incident involving the eagle, and his own clumsy attempts to join in.

He took a deep breath, fighting to keep his voice steady. "Yes," he replied curtly, attempting a nonchalant tone. He quickly gathered the copies and excused himself, retreating back to the safety of his office, where he could finally breathe.