Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the office seemed to pulse in time with Amelia's erratic heartbeat. Her jaw was clenched, a muscle twitching near her eye. She drummed her fingers against the cold metal of her desk, a staccato beat against the hum of the air conditioning. The email, subject line "Important Announcement," lay open on her screen, the words blurring slightly. *Mama Rosa's… closing.* She felt a prickling sensation crawl up her spine.

She abruptly stood, pushing her chair back with a loud scrape. Her gaze darted around the cubicle farm, as if searching for an escape route. The chatter of her colleagues faded into background noise. She needed air, needed… something.

The air outside felt thick and heavy. She pulled her phone from her pocket and scrolled through her contacts, the list a meaningless blur. Her thumb hovered over her husband's name, but she pressed the power button instead, and shoved the phone back into her pocket. A headache was forming behind her eyes.