Gemotions

The elevator ascended slowly, each floor a growing weight in Elena's chest. She felt a tickle in her throat, a prelude to a cough she fought to suppress. The small, gold pendant around her neck felt heavy. She clutched it, her knuckles turning white.

She reread the announcement posted in the lobby, her gaze darting around the space, trying to spot a sign, any sign, that this wasn’t real. The polished marble floor suddenly seemed cold, the brass fixtures gleaming with a cruel, indifferent light.

Elena stepped out onto her floor, and her pace quickened. The smell of her apartment, a blend of lavender and old books, suddenly offered a glimmer of comfort. Reaching her door, she fumbled with her keys, her fingers clumsy and resistant. She had a sudden, overwhelming urge to retreat, to disappear.