Gemotions

The silence was almost as oppressive as the lack of air. Michael sat against the wall, legs outstretched, his expensive suit rumpled. He stared at the ceiling, at the blank, unyielding metal. He'd given up on trying to make conversation. What could he say?

His coworker, Susan, had started to hum a pop song, her voice a fragile sound in the metallic cage. He looked at her, saw the forced cheerfulness in her smile. He was too tired to try and match her energy.

He closed his eyes. The feeling of being completely detached from the situation was a relief. The meeting he'd been dreading, the problems he couldn't solve, they all felt infinitely far away. He allowed himself to sink into the quiet, into the void.