Gemotions

The metallic tang of fear hung in the air. Maria, her hands clasped tightly, felt a tremor in her knees. Across from her, David stared at the ceiling. She’d been too quick to dismiss his ideas during the team meeting, her ambition eclipsing her empathy. She'd ridiculed his presentation, eager to impress the boss. Now, the silence felt charged with an unspoken tension.

“Are you… okay?” David asked finally, his voice low. Maria averted her eyes.

She replayed the scene in her mind, the cutting remarks she’d made, the way she’d scoffed at his suggestions. She should have been more supportive, more understanding. She closed her eyes.

The steel walls seemed to press in, mirroring the constriction in her chest.