Gemotions

Rain hammered against the window, mirroring the relentless thrum in Amelia's chest. She stared at the faded photograph, the two of them beaming, arms slung around each other. Sarah's face, radiant with laughter, was a painful stab of contrast. They were at the beach, the sand gleaming gold, the ocean a churning blue. Today, the world felt less inviting.

"Remember that day?" Sarah asked, her voice bright, shattering the silence. Amelia flinched, the sound grating.

"Vaguely," she mumbled, pushing the photograph away. Sarah began to recount the details - the rogue wave, the lost ice cream, the sunburn. Amelia remembered a different day entirely, a day filled with petty arguments and a pervasive sense of boredom. She remembered Sarah's forced smile and the tension radiating between them.

A coldness settled in her stomach. Sarah’s version was a postcard, all sunshine and joy. Amelia’s was a grey, overcast portrait of discontent.