Gemotions

The first thing that struck Jessica was the noise. The constant chatter and clatter of the manufacturing floor, a stark contrast to the hushed atmosphere of the library, where she'd worked for years. Her new role was in production management, a world she knew nothing about.

The air was thick with the scent of metal and oil. Huge machines whirred and clanked around her, seemingly oblivious to her presence. The supervisors barked orders, their voices booming over the din.

She tried to follow the instructions given to her, but her mind felt sluggish, her movements clumsy. She kept second-guessing herself, feeling a prickle of panic rising in her chest. She wanted to retreat, to vanish back into the quiet sanctuary of her previous job.