Gemotions

The world was spinning. Or perhaps it was just the elevator. It was hard to tell. All he knew was that his stomach churned, and his hands were clammy. He looked at the other person trapped with him, a woman he'd never spoken to before. She was staring at the floor, clutching her handbag as if it were a life raft.

“Anything…anything happen…?” he stammered, the words catching in his throat. He wished he'd brought a bottle of water. Or anything.

He had to get out. He had to breathe. He took a few deep breaths, trying to control the pounding in his chest. But the silence pressed in, amplifying every creak, every groan of the metal cage around them.