Gemotions

The sterile smell of the office triggered a wave of nausea. Daniel traced a finger along the cold plastic of the waiting room chair, avoiding any eye contact. He always felt this way, right before things really began. The way his stomach twisted.

He'd been putting off therapy for months, terrified of vulnerability. He finally caved after a monumental blunder at work – the details of which he’d replayed in his head a thousand times, each time feeling more incompetent. And now, this.

Marcus Bell emerged. The years had softened him, perhaps, but the commanding presence was undeniable. Daniel felt the familiar heat rise in his cheeks. He could hear Marcus’s voice, asking him to come in, but it sounded distorted in his ears. It brought a fresh wave of panic, causing his shoulders to hunch as he walked toward the door.