Gemotions

The chipped mug in Maya’s hand trembled. Liam was grinning, reminiscing about the time they'd "accidentally" set off the fire alarm in Mrs. Gable’s science lab. He remembered it as a chaotic, hilarious disaster involving exploding baking soda volcanoes and a panicked teacher.

Maya’s throat felt tight. She swallowed, trying to force down the sudden lump. Her memories were different. She distinctly recalled a much smaller, quieter explosion. A quiet, almost gentle fizz of vinegar reacting with the baking soda. And a terrified, furious Mrs. Gable, not a panicked one.

"You remember the smoke, right?" Liam asked, leaning forward, eyes gleaming. "Thickest smoke I'd ever seen! We were choking!"

Maya could barely breathe. She forced a chuckle, hoping it sounded convincing. "Oh, yeah. Thick." But in her memory, the smoke had been minimal, a thin haze that dissipated quickly. She felt a cold dread creeping through her, chilling her to the bone. This felt wrong, profoundly wrong.