Gemotions

The stale air in the apartment hung heavy, mirroring Clara’s mood. She hadn't left the house in days. A half-eaten pizza sat on the coffee table, a testament to her lack of appetite. Her phone buzzed, a message from Maya.

"Remember the camping trip? Best weekend ever!" the text read, accompanied by a picture of them laughing around a campfire.

Clara traced the image with a trembling finger. Maya remembered roasting marshmallows and stargazing. Clara remembered the relentless mosquitos, the leaky tent, and the gnawing feeling of loneliness that had consumed her. She felt a familiar hollowness inside, a hollowness that seemed to grow with each passing day. The contrast between their recollections was another heavy burden.

She let the phone fall onto the sofa, the screen facing up. The picture of their happy faces felt like a cruel joke.