Gemotions

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, tossing the invitation onto her cluttered desk. The fluorescent lights of her office seemed to dim, casting long shadows. She leaned back in her chair, the springs groaning in protest.

Her eyelids felt like lead. She’d been up since before dawn, dealing with a series of minor crises. The thought of facing a night of forced socializing felt like an insurmountable obstacle. Every movement required a conscious effort.

The hum of the air conditioner created a monotonous drone. She found herself staring blankly at the computer screen, the words of an email she was supposed to be writing dissolving into abstract shapes. The desk seemed so far away, the office walls closing in. She rested her head on the back of the chair, closing her eyes, only for a second.