Gemotions

The office building loomed over her, a concrete giant she’d been navigating for years. Today, however, its familiar hallways seemed alien, the layout a confusing maze. She felt a growing sense of detachment, like she was observing herself from a distance.

"Hey, Maya," called out Ben, approaching her. He had a goofy grin on his face.

She stopped, turning. "Hi, Ben."

He pointed at her water bottle. "Bringing back memories of Camp Firefly, huh? Always hydrating?"

Firefly. A sharp, stinging sensation bloomed in her stomach, accompanied by a dizzying rush of images: a faded t-shirt, the scent of sunscreen, a particular constellation she remembered staring at every night. The floor seemed to subtly shift beneath her feet.

She grasped for something, anything, to say. "Yes, well. It was a long time ago," she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper.