Gemotions

"Ugh, this again," Sarah muttered, grabbing her noise-cancelling headphones. She'd already downed three cups of coffee, but her hands were still trembling slightly as she plugged them in. The construction next door had begun, like clockwork, at precisely 8 AM.

She tried to focus on her work, but the vibrations shook her desk. Her breathing became shallow and rapid. A pulse throbbed in her left temple, matching the rhythm of the power tools. She leaned back in her chair, trying to ground herself.

Her fingers fidgeted, tapping a frantic rhythm against the desk. She considered calling the authorities, but knew that it wouldn't make a difference. She felt trapped in a pressure cooker. She could barely get any words written on the page.