Gemotions

The elevator ascended slowly, each floor a rising tide of unease. Sarah's casual comment about her compensation had stuck with Mark, a constant, nagging throb in his chest. His normally steady hands were now clumsy. He fumbled with the key card as he exited the elevator, almost dropping it.

He sat at his desk, staring out the window, at the city skyline. It felt strangely distant, as if viewed through a distorting lens. The usual buzz of the office, the click-clack of keyboards, now seemed amplified, jarring. He ran a hand through his hair, the familiar gesture failing to soothe the internal turmoil.

A knot formed in his stomach. He wasn’t sure how to proceed.