Gemotions

He watched the little numbers above the door, calmly tracking their lack of progress. His hands remained in his pockets, a slight pressure comforting his palms. This sort of thing happened, didn't it? He'd seen it on the news a dozen times.

“Well, this is… something," Maya, his coworker, said with an edge to her voice. He just nodded, his gaze steady. He pictured his apartment, his cozy armchair, the gentle scent of his lavender candles. This would pass. The thought was a warm blanket on a chilly day.

He took a slow, deliberate breath, the air in the confined space seemingly not an issue for him. He imagined his favorite music playing in his mind, and the waiting felt… less pressing.