Gemotions

He felt his stomach clench. He had a meeting in an hour. He knew he'd start to sweat. He hated feeling exposed. He looked at Maya, his co-worker. She looked like she was managing the ordeal better than him.

He rubbed his hands together, then wiped them on his trousers. The air felt increasingly heavy, and the silence was punctuated only by his own labored breathing. He kept taking long, slow breaths, hoping to dispel the feeling that was overtaking him.

"You okay?" Maya asked, her voice soft. He nodded, unable to meet her gaze. He felt the familiar heat rising in his cheeks. He hated feeling so out of control.

He focused on the small scratches on the elevator door, trying to distract himself. The minutes dragged on, each second a painful reminder of his lack of control.