Gemotions

The sudden stop had jolted Eleanor. She stumbled, grabbing for the handrail as the lights flickered and died. Blackness descended, punctuated only by the faint glow of the emergency lights. She fumbled in her purse for her phone, her fingers clumsy and trembling.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her voice tight. The battery was almost dead. She quickly took a breath, trying to steady herself. Her heart was beating rapidly, a frantic drum against her ribs.

Her coworker, Tom, was whistling tunelessly. He seemed unfazed. She wanted to scream at him to stop. She shifted from foot to foot, the silence pressing in around her. The air was getting stuffy.