Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in Michael’s mouth. Across the break room, Emily was laughing. Her laughter was loud, carrying across the room like a physical thing. He wanted to tell her to shut up, but held it in, the words getting caught in his throat.

She was describing a prank at Camp Whispering Pines. He remembered that place. He hadn’t thought about that summer in years, the sting of being picked last for every team, of the constant feeling of inadequacy.

“No way!” Emily shrieked, her face lighting up. “You went to Whispering Pines too?” Michael’s fingers tightened around the ceramic mug.

He nodded, avoiding her gaze. It felt like a punch to the gut. This was *his* story, his buried past. Now, here she was, radiating happiness and familiarity from a place that held only pain for him.

“I loved that camp!” she gushed, and he could feel the pulse in his temples start to throb. He wanted to be anywhere else.