Gemotions

He stared at the notification on his phone. IT. He was being transferred to IT. He let out a strange, involuntary laugh, a sharp, brittle sound that echoed in the quiet office. He clutched his chest, as if trying to contain the panic that was threatening to consume him.

His vision swam. He blinked, trying to clear his sight. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He began to pace his office, the linoleum cold beneath his feet.

He was suddenly overwhelmed by the scent of something he couldn't quite place, but it was suffocating. His breath came in ragged gasps. He started to mumble under his breath, repeating the word, "Why?" over and over again, as if it were a mantra. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he tried to catch his breath.