Gemotions

“How much longer?” John finally asked, his voice cracking. He glanced at the emergency button again, almost as if willing it to work. His palms were slick with sweat. He had a project deadline looming, and the thought of missing it sent a jolt of anxiety through him.

He felt a tightness in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. “They’ll be here soon,” Maria repeated, her voice a little too cheerful. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered, adding to the feeling that things were teetering on the edge. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep the rising tide of stress at bay. He had to keep it together.