Gemotions

The screen saver on the laptop displayed a picture of a breathtaking sunset over the ocean. It used to soothe him, but now the image grated on his nerves. George sat hunched over his desk, his shoulders slumped. He felt an intense pressure building within his skull. He kept re-reading the email, searching for a hidden message of hope, but there was none.

He began to breathe very shallowly. The clock on his wall ticked with a maddening, relentless rhythm. He felt a rising tide of despair, threatening to drown him. He closed his eyes.