Some ways I thought to express tension:

• The tension in the room was sufficating.

• I sat in silence, woefully aware of the thickness in the surrounding air.

• All of a sudden, I could not breath with surprising effectiveness, the room felt much more enclosed, and I found even myself experiencing the rushing panic of claustrophobia.

• Breathing was always something I took for granted. And yet I found myself struggling to breath when the air was as clear as a cool autum breeze, to inhale when the nearest toxin was thousands of miles of away.

The Knot

The walls rise high above, the tension palpable. Before me lies my goal, the reason for my existence, what I must do in order to survive. I remember to focus, before I lose sight of my reason for being here. As I progress towards to center, I think of all those who are counting on me, all those who cheer for me in their own way, and of course my family. If everything goes right, I can play a key role in furthering their amibitions today. The ground is rough. I must consider my moves as I approach. One false step and I will face a great fall. One, two, three steps, slowly but steady, I follow the path that has been laid out for me. As I reach the end, I feel all around me, allowing my senses to take in the surroundings. The liquid before me appears almost jewel-like. I find that as I take it, it coalesces around my mandibles and I find it easier to carry. Slowly, I continue along the densly trodden path back to my colony, back to my home and to my queen. As I leave the knot, I realize I will return some day, but when that may be is something I shall only know on that day.