Gemotions

He stared at the email again. The subject line, "Meeting Cancelled," burned in his vision. Another one. Another deadline missed. He balled the piece of paper in his hand. The rhythmic drilling from next door added to the building pressure in his chest. His teeth ground together. He felt a wave of heat wash over him.

He slammed his fist on the desk. The sudden noise startled him. He took a deep breath, fighting for control. He couldn’t afford to lose it, not now. He needed to focus. But the incessant noise, the relentless assault on his senses, was making it impossible.

He snatched up his phone and began to pace. He needed to get away, to find a place of silence and calm. A walk, he decided, was the only reasonable answer. The quiet of the outside could offer a temporary reprieve. He just needed it to stop, even for a moment.