Gemotions

The email draft, already a disaster, felt like a lead weight in Leo's inbox. He reread the first sentence, then the second, each word a betrayal of his already fragile composure. He had to finish this presentation, and he was already running late. The sound of footsteps approached. "Leo, did you ever learn to canoe at Camp Timberline?" said Claire, a new hire.

His hand shot to his throat, as if to physically stop the words from escaping. His chest tightened. He struggled to swallow past the sudden dryness in his mouth. He stammered, "I... I don't think so." He needed out, now.