Gemotions

The jarring stop, the sudden darkness – it was almost too much for Alice. She’d always been a worrier, and this situation was like fuel to her anxieties. She felt a tightness in her chest, a pressure that made it hard to breathe.

She hugged herself tightly, a gesture meant for comfort, but it just made her feel smaller, more vulnerable. She looked at her coworker, Kevin, searching for some sign of reassurance, but all she saw was his own uncertainty. She thought of calling for help but she felt a weird sense of inertia.

She paced back and forth, her steps short and jerky. She kept repeating her name under her breath, a futile attempt to anchor herself in the present. The metallic scent of the elevator seemed to intensify, making her feel nauseous.