Gemotions

Eliza pressed her back against the cold steel, feeling the chill seep into her clothes. Her breaths were shallow, her chest tight. Beside her, David had started muttering about the air conditioning, a nervous habit she knew well. She clutched her handbag, her knuckles white. Inside was the presentation she’d worked on for weeks, the presentation that could make or break her career. It felt heavy, a physical weight she was desperately trying to shed.

“Maybe we should try the emergency button again?” David suggested, his voice trembling.

Eliza shook her head. They’d already tried it a dozen times, each failed attempt chipping away at her composure. She closed her eyes, picturing the faces of her colleagues, the judging looks she knew she'd receive. This was a nightmare. A locked door, a stagnant present, and a crumbling future.