Gemotions

He sat at his desk, the silence in the office usually a welcome shield. But today, the quiet only amplified the turmoil within. He was meticulously organizing files, a task of mindless precision.

“Did you ever do summer camp as a kid? I did. Camp Whispering Pines," said David, his voice full of warmth.

His fingers tightened around the file he held, knuckles white. The words were a physical blow, a sudden eruption in his carefully constructed world. He felt the familiar constriction in his chest, the urge to lash out.

He shook his head without looking up. “No.” The word was a lie, a shield. He felt the heat in his cheeks, the burning sensation in his eyes. He wished he could teleport away.