Gemotions

The stale air in the elevator was quickly becoming oppressive. David wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his fingers trembling slightly as he did so. Across from him, Emily was attempting to remain cheerful, cracking jokes about the situation. He found her forced levity grating.

He kept seeing her face, the way she had looked when he’d taken credit for her project proposal. The way the joy that had been etched on her features immediately evaporated. He had lied, and he was now trapped, with time to contemplate the severity of his sin.

The silence that settled between them was unbearable. He wanted to apologize, to confess, but the words caught in his throat.