Gemotions

The elevator ride felt like an eternity for Ben. He'd just left the meeting where the news had been dropped. His palms were clammy, his stomach churning with unease. He avoided eye contact with the other passengers, staring fixedly at the floor numbers ticking upwards.

He got out, he went back to his desk. He stared at his computer, unable to focus. The bright screen seemed to mock his current situation. He'd been with the company for twenty years, most of his adult life, and this had been a safe space. All the certainties he’d relied upon for so long suddenly felt shaky.

He picked up his phone, dialed his wife’s number, and hung up. He didn't know what to say. The thought of facing the conversation with her, of admitting his fears, was more than he could bear. He leaned back in his chair, the world suddenly feeling very cold.