Gemotions

The sudden darkness swallowed the vibrant office lights, and the clanging sound of the stalled elevator felt like a signal. This was it. Finally. Eleanor had been on the precipice of a breakdown. The pressure, the stress, the constant demands – it all felt like a noose tightening around her neck. Now, though? The tension in her muscles began to ease.

She hadn't realized how tense she'd become, but the feeling was undeniable. The first deep breath she took was clean and pure, a stark contrast to the stifling air of the office. She studied the floor, the blank, unyielding metal.

"Well," she said, her voice softer than usual. "This is... unexpected." She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her coworker, David, was already rummaging in his bag. She watched him, noting the way his hands shook slightly. She felt no such thing.

The elevator was a small box, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt a spaciousness within herself. She could almost feel the worries dissipating, like smoke, against the blank, metallic walls. The air had a certain freshness to it.