Gemotions

The digital clock in the elevator displayed the time: 3:17 PM. Maria groaned. She was supposed to be in a meeting. She knew this was going to ruin her presentation. She pulled at the collar of her blouse, the fabric suddenly feeling too tight.

She turned to the man beside her. “This is unbelievable,” she said, her voice sharp. He just shrugged. She started walking back and forth, from the doors to the back wall and back. She felt like she was trapped in a box.

She pressed all the elevator buttons repeatedly, as if that would somehow change things. Her heart was racing. She had a new idea for a project, and she was desperate to start working on it. This delay was agonizing. She sat on the floor, her hands clenched into fists, staring at the closed doors.