Gemotions

The news had hit Emily like a physical blow. She sat at her desk, staring at the screen, unable to process what she was reading. Her mouth was dry, her throat tight. She couldn't swallow. A strange buzzing filled her ears.

She felt a sudden urge to clean. She stood up and frantically began to tidy her already-pristine desk, rearranging pens and organizing files. She wasn’t sure why, but the action gave her something to focus on.

But the thoughts kept swirling, the accusations echoing in her mind. She started to hum a tune to try and calm herself. The tune failed to work. She felt her chest constrict.