Gemotions

The lack of movement amplified the discomfort. Claire felt the familiar prickling sensation behind her eyes, the prelude to tears. She blinked rapidly, fighting them back. This was ridiculous.

The silence was the worst part. Every creak of the elevator, every strained breath felt amplified. Her coworker, Ben, a man who always seemed so grounded, seemed to be holding himself very still. She wished he'd say something, anything.

She hugged herself, the action providing a small, fleeting sense of security. The cool metal pressed against her skin, offering a strange kind of comfort.

She hated feeling so exposed, so fragile. She closed her eyes, focusing on the memory of the sunshine streaming through her kitchen window that morning. It offered a fleeting moment of peace.