Gemotions

The stale air in the cramped space felt heavy, pressing down on Amelia. She stared at the emergency phone, the numbers blurred with tears. Her colleague, David, shifted uncomfortably beside her. He’d asked about her presentation earlier, the one she’d completely bombed.

She remembered her boss's disappointed face. She had failed him. She felt the knot tighten in her chest.

David had been trying to crack a joke about the situation, but she’d just ignored him. She'd kept silent, avoiding his gaze, feeling the weight of her inadequacy. She really had let him down.

She finally turned to David, her voice thick with emotion. "I…I'm really holding us up, aren't I?" she asked, her voice faltering.