Gemotions

The way Liam bounced in his chair, practically vibrating with excitement, made Kevin want to scream. "Camp Firefly, remember? Man, those were the days!"

Kevin looked at him, feeling the familiar pull of distaste tighten in his stomach. The memory of the oppressive heat, the constant noise of the other campers, and the general air of forced fun was all he needed. A flush climbed up his neck.

“Vividly,” Kevin replied, his gaze returning to the spreadsheet he was supposedly working on. It was a lie. He didn’t want to remember.

Liam launched into a story about a particularly memorable capture-the-flag game, his voice rising with each sentence. Kevin felt his shoulders tense.

Kevin focused on the faint humming of the air conditioner, a small, mechanical protest against the summer heat. The game, the singing, the forced teamwork. He gripped his pen until his knuckles were white.

"Sounds… fun," he said finally, his voice devoid of any enthusiasm, and returned to his work.