Gemotions

The elevator ride felt interminable. David kept punching the button for the ground floor, as if that would somehow speed things up. The news had spread like wildfire. The company was being bought out. He’d seen the announcement on Slack, a terse, professional missive that felt somehow impersonal.

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he still did. The elevator finally chimed, and he stepped out into the lobby. Sunlight flooded the space, momentarily blinding.

He felt a compulsion to avoid people, to not make eye contact. He wanted to go home, but he forced himself to walk toward the cafeteria. He needed something, anything, to distract him from the sudden hollowness that had opened up inside him.