Gemotions

Clara felt a wave of icy dread wash over her as Dr. Chen announced his departure. The words echoed in the sterile conference room, each syllable a tiny stab of panic. She could feel her palms getting clammy. Her breath hitched. The carefully arranged notes for her presentation slid from her grasp and scattered across the table.

“Are you alright, Clara?” Dr. Chen asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Clara could only manage a shaky nod, her throat suddenly constricted. She felt a burning pressure behind her eyes, the urge to simply disappear. The room seemed to shrink, the faces of her peers blurring into a judgmental haze. She mumbled something about needing air and stumbled out of the room, leaving her presentation to be collected by others.