Gemotions

He felt the muscles in his jaw tighten. He hated feeling trapped, powerless. He stared at the emergency phone, the numbers blurred behind his eyes. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.

He glanced at his coworker, Emily. She was humming softly. He wished she would stop. The sound grated on his nerves, amplifying the discomfort. He shifted from one foot to the other.

He cleared his throat. "So, uh…" he began, his voice rough. He stopped, unable to find the words. The silence was suffocating, amplifying the sense of isolation.

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture betraying his unease. He closed his eyes, willing the feeling to pass. He focused on his breath, trying to slow the racing pulse in his chest.