Gemotions

The surgical tools in her hand felt impossibly heavy. The sterile environment, usually a source of calm, now seemed to press in on her. Dr. Chen, her mentor and the embodiment of surgical skill, had retired without a single word to her. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

She stared at the patient before her, a human life resting on her shoulders. Her hands trembled, her vision swimming. The pressure in her ears was enormous, blocking out all other sound. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the air felt thin and inadequate. She needed to focus, to get through this, but she felt as if she was about to explode.