Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum a discordant tune, amplifying the thrumming in Maya's chest. She meticulously arranged the pens on her desk, aligning the clips with the edge of the blotter, a task she usually found calming. Now, it felt like a futile attempt to impose order on the chaos brewing inside her. Across the room, David, her coworker, was regaling a group with a story, his voice booming with laughter.

Suddenly, David turned, his gaze landing on Maya. "Maya, did you ever go to Camp Whippoorwill?" he asked, his smile wide. Her breath hitched.

She swallowed, the action feeling like pushing a boulder up a hill. "Uh… yeah," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in.

David's eyes lit up. "No way! That's incredible! I went there every summer growing up. Did you ever do the ropes course? That thing was terrifying. Remember that counselor, Mr. Henderson? He was… intense." Maya felt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple. She fiddled with a stray paperclip, her fingers trembling. This was not how she wanted to start her day.