Gemotions

He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers swam before his eyes. He had been so proud of his achievements. Now, showing Alex how to use the formulas, his throat felt tight. He had never been this bad, never felt this off, and he kept looking for the exit.

"So, what do you think?" Alex asked, looking up from the screen.

John didn't answer right away. He hadn't been this distracted, ever. He managed to force a smile, a pathetic attempt, and started again. He kept thinking about what it had all cost.

The drive home was slow, each red light a fresh obstacle. He felt a deep, dull ache, a constant pressure that made it hard to breathe. He knew he was the architect of his own misfortune.