Gemotions

The tiny space amplified every sound, every movement. He felt his pulse thrumming in his ears, a relentless drumbeat against the silence. Across from him, Emily, usually so composed, looked pale.

He took a step back, the action barely noticeable, but the small shift in space provided little comfort. The air was heavy, thick with an unseen pressure. He imagined he could smell the fear radiating off the metal walls.

“Are you alright?” Emily asked, her voice quiet, tentative. He nodded, trying to force a smile, but it felt wooden, unnatural. He couldn’t meet her gaze.

He shifted from foot to foot, the small movements a frantic attempt to find purchase in this uncomfortable situation. He wanted to get out, to breathe real air, to escape the feeling that was swallowing him whole.