Gemotions

The silence in the elevator was deafening. The ticking of a nearby clock tower outside the building was an assault on her ears. It was all a complete shambles. The project was over budget, the deadlines were missed, and now, this. She had a headache.

Her breathing quickened, shallow and rapid. She tried to take a deep breath, but the air felt thin and inadequate. She fiddled with the buttons on her blouse, her movements jerky and erratic.

“Don’t worry, they’ll get us out,” Ben said, his voice hesitant. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. The pressure in her chest made any conversation feel impossible. She wanted to scream.

She focused on the small scratch on the elevator's wall, a way to focus her thoughts. She bit her lip until it bled, tasting the coppery tang of blood. She felt the urge to pace.