Gemotions

The metal walls seemed to press in on him, the silence amplifying every little sound. The rhythmic hum of the machinery was the only thing breaking the quiet. He looked at the reflection in the metal door, a stranger stared back, his face drawn and weary. He could almost hear his grandfather's voice, full of wisdom, giving advice that made sense at the time, but didn't quite stick in his memory.

He watched Elena, his coworker, pull her jacket tighter around her. She looked cold. He remembered the familiar warmth of his childhood home, the crackling fireplace in the winter.

He broke the silence. "This reminds me of when…" he began, then stopped, unsure how to continue.

Elena turned to him, her expression questioning.

He continued, his voice barely a whisper. "When I used to wait for my dad to get home from work." He paused, a feeling of melancholy settling over him.