Gemotions

The elevator came to a grinding halt between floors, casting a shadow of unease over the two occupants. Michael's first reaction was a wave of something akin to contentment. He'd been battling the persistent anxiety that came from overworking himself. Now, a stillness settled over him, the kind he hadn't experienced in a very long time.

He looked over at his colleague, Sarah, who was already visibly stressed, fiddling with her phone. He found that her anxiety was not infectious. He found that, strangely, he felt none of it himself.

He leaned back against the cool metal wall, closing his eyes. The weight of his responsibilities seemed to lessen with each passing second. He thought of his boss, his deadlines, his overwhelming workload, and found that his thoughts were filled with a strange kind of detachment. The pressures he'd been carrying no longer mattered.

He took a deep breath. He had been so wound up, so stressed. He'd been looking for rest, and it seemed that finally, he'd found it. He smiled.