Gemotions

The ceiling fan whirred overhead, a monotonous drone that did little to alleviate the oppressive heat clinging to the air. Amelia slumped further into the worn armchair, the floral print fabric scratching uncomfortably against her skin. She flipped through the glossy pages of a magazine, but her eyes glazed over the fashion spreads, the articles on exotic vacations. Each page felt heavier than the last, as if weighted with lead.

A text from Liam popped up: "Remember that concert last summer? Craziest thing ever." Amelia sighed, a small puff of air escaping her lips.

She typed back a curt reply, "Yeah, vague memories." He'd been there with her, that much she knew. But as she tried to recall details, a baffling fog descended.

Liam messaged back: "Dude, it was *insane*! Remember the mosh pit? I got crowd-surfed! And the guitarist, he pointed directly at us! Best night of my life."

Amelia stared at the phone. A mosh pit? She remembered standing near the back, nursing a lukewarm soda. And the guitarist… she'd thought he looked bored, like he couldn't wait to go home. Her recall didn’t match his memory in the slightest.