Gemotions

He felt his pulse hammering in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that drowned out the sounds of the office. He leaned against the wall outside, then took a deep breath before walking into the conference room. His new charge, a young man named Alex, was already there, waiting.

“Alright, so we’ll start with the basics,” he began, his voice strained. He pulled up the presentation, his hands unsteady. He wished he could be anywhere else.

Each shared detail, each carefully chosen word, felt like a concession. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe. He could feel a pressure inside his head.

He watched Alex take notes, his face blank and unreadable. He felt something… he couldn’t name it.