Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights in the office seemed to pulse in time with Amelia's racing heart. Each hum, each buzz, felt like a deliberate signal, a coded message specifically for her. She was certain someone was watching her, tracking her movements. A colleague had given her a slightly too-long stare in the break room earlier, and now she felt the phantom weight of their gaze on her back.

She kept the blinds drawn, even though the sun was shining. The brightness felt like an assault, a spotlight on her every move. At her desk, she found herself jumping at every ping of an email notification, each one a potential landmine.

When her manager casually asked about a project update, her palms began to sweat. Her voice was too high-pitched, she felt her cheeks flush. She stumbled over her words, convinced her fumble would cost her everything.