Gemotions

The relentless hammering was the worst. It was like a metronome, counting down the seconds until… until *what*? Eleanor didn't know. Her heart hammered in her chest, a frantic drumbeat matching the rhythm of the construction. She had been perfectly fine, reading her book, enjoying her tea, before it started.

Now, her vision swam. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps. She clutched at her chest, trying to control her racing pulse. She felt a need to do *something*, to make the noise stop. She grabbed her car keys, her knuckles white. She had to get away, she thought.

The thought of going out of the house made her feel worse. She sat, frozen. She imagined her house shaking and collapsing. She needed to do something immediately. She felt trapped.