Gemotions

The crowded waiting room felt like a pressure cooker. Emily fidgeted, her leg bouncing relentlessly. The air conditioning was failing, and the heat was making her feel sluggish and short of breath. She wished she had never made this appointment.

She eyed the man in the corner, who was sitting ramrod straight in his chair, seemingly trying to disappear. He had a look of such utter discomfort on his face that Emily felt her own anxieties amplified. He kept adjusting his collar. She recognised the tell-tale signs.

He finally stood up, muttering under his breath, and began to pace. Emily watched him with growing interest. "Have you been waiting long?" she asked, her voice tight. The man stopped pacing, then answered, "Long enough to feel like I’m suffocating. And you…?"