Gemotions

The unexpected stop threw Maya for a second. The world went still. Then, a smile crept across her face. "Well, this is... new," she said to her colleague, Ben. He looked like he was about to faint. She'd fix that.

She started humming a playful melody, her fingers drumming a rhythm against her thigh. She took a deep breath, savoring the stale air. It was a challenge, a tiny puzzle to be solved. And she loved puzzles.

“Look on the bright side,” she said, her voice light and airy. "At least we have each other." She rummaged in her bag and produced a small, brightly illustrated book. "Anyone up for a story time?" She offered Ben a wide, friendly smile. They could get through this.