Gemotions

A bead of sweat trickled down David's temple. He swiped at it, his hand trembling slightly. He watched Sarah, his coworker, pace the small confines of the elevator, muttering under her breath. He preferred to be the one who was prepared. "Well," he said, forcing a calm tone, "at least the air conditioning is still working." He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

He glanced at the security camera in the corner, a silent black eye. He wasn't entirely trusting of the building's maintenance team. They'd always cut corners. He remembered the last time he needed something fixed. He focused on his breathing. In, out. It was a practiced strategy to quell the internal tremors.

Sarah, her face a mask of irritation, stopped pacing. "What do you think is going on?" she demanded. David shrugged, striving for an air of nonchalance. "Probably just a power surge or something." He made a show of straightening his tie. "Happens all the time." He didn't believe it for a second.