Gemotions

"This isn't happening," Jessica whispered, staring at the closed doors. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn't even manage to wrap her arms around herself. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, and she couldn't breathe properly.

The emergency lights seemed to pulse in a slow, torturous rhythm. Her coworker, Kevin, a man she usually found irritating, was surprisingly calm. He kept making small talk, but she couldn’t focus on his words.

She imagined all the ways this could go wrong. The air became thinner, as if someone had turned down the oxygen supply. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, blurring her vision.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the overwhelming sense of dread. The metallic scent of the elevator, the sudden isolation, it was too much. She longed for escape.