Gemotions

A wave of heat washed over Amelia as the elevator lurched to a halt. Liam, her coworker, started muttering about being late for a meeting. Amelia, however, found herself strangely at ease. She took a slow, deliberate breath, the stale air doing little to diminish her state of contentment.

She surveyed the cramped space, taking note of the polished brass handrails and the subtle scent of lemon cleaner. Her gaze landed on Liam, his brow furrowed in annoyance. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

This was exactly what she needed. A break from the relentless demands of the project, a chance to simply *be*. She'd been feeling overwhelmed, and this unscheduled respite felt like a gift. She reached into her bag and pulled out a worn paperback, the familiar feel of the cover grounding her. Time seemed to slow as she began reading.