Gemotions

The steel doors groaned to a halt, plunging the small elevator car into a dimness broken only by the flickering emergency light. Amelia sighed, a slow exhale that seemed to drain the tension from her shoulders. She leaned back against the cool metal, the slight vibrations a comforting rhythm.

She closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the building – the distant hum of machinery, the faint chatter – wash over her. It was a welcome change from the constant clamor of the open-plan office. She could almost feel the tightness in her chest unclench.

"Well," said David, her coworker, his voice a little strained. "This is just great." Amelia simply nodded, her gaze drifting upwards toward the ventilation grate, where she imagined air currents were circulating, carrying away the remnants of the day.

She found herself humming a tune under her breath, a melody she’d learned from her grandmother. It wound its way through her mind, calming the little anxieties that usually flitted around.