Gemotions

He stared at the whiteboard, a jumble of notes and diagrams, the key to the system he had created. He gestured towards it, his hands trembling slightly, as he explained the intricacies to the young man assigned to him, Paul.

The building around him felt smaller, the walls closing in. He felt the phantom pressure of the corner office he used to occupy.

“Here, at step five,” he mumbled, his voice catching, “you must ensure all the… the parameters are correct.” Each word was a struggle, each explanation a surrender.

He noticed the easy confidence on Paul’s face, his quick comprehension. A dark thought, unwelcome and persistent, whispered in his mind.