Gemotions

The relentless chatter of the office was making her head throb. Suddenly, Michael, from accounts, said, “Wait a second, is that you in that photo? Camp Silver Lake, right?”

She felt a cold wash over her. The very name conjured up unpleasant images: the murky lake water, the bland food, the relentless bullying. The thought of it was intolerable. "Yes, it was," she said, her voice small.

He began, with increasing gusto, to recall details of the summer, the campfire singalongs, the dreadful skits, and a particularly humiliating incident involving a lost canoe. She took a long, slow breath, considering various options for a sudden, urgent departure.