Gemotions

The sudden stop had sent Emily stumbling. Now, pinned against the back wall, she felt a wave of… something. Her head swam, and she couldn't seem to focus her eyes. This was just a silly inconvenience, she told herself. Just wait it out.

Her carefully constructed composure threatened to shatter. She fought to keep her voice level, but it came out higher pitched than she intended. “Well, this is… unexpected.” The elevator was silent save for the whirring of some unknown machine and the sound of her breath rushing in and out.

She hugged herself, as if seeking physical comfort. Her gaze darted from the ceiling, to the floor, to the metal doors. Each detail felt amplified, unsettling. She felt a compulsion to pace, but the space was too small. Her mind raced, a whirlwind of anxieties and imagined scenarios.