Gemotions

The emergency phone felt like a taunt, a symbol of his predicament. Michael stared at it, the plastic receiver dangling lifelessly. Sarah was tapping her foot, a rhythmic pulse of anxiety that grated on his nerves. He felt a cold knot in his stomach, a feeling of being tethered, unable to break free.

He imagined the missed opportunity, the stalled project, the potential losses. He was a cog in a machine, and the machine had abruptly ground to a halt. He felt the weight of expectation, the pressure to succeed, the fear of failure. He felt utterly, completely pinned.