Gemotions

The elevator's emergency system buzzed with its persistent hum, a constant reminder of their confinement. David chewed on his lip, his gaze fixed on the door's seams. He'd missed an important deadline, a mistake that had cost the company valuable time and money. He felt the sting of regret keenly.

His coworker, Carol, was trying to reassure him, but he couldn't seem to respond. He was the cause of this inconvenience.

He finally met her eyes, his own filled with a deep sense of self-reproach. “I’m… completely useless right now, aren't I?" he said, his voice flat.