Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery, but the scent did little to lift Daniel’s spirits. He sat across from his childhood friend, Ben, who was enthusiastically recounting their time working at the bakery years before.

Ben reminisced about the camaraderie, the shared jokes, the feeling of accomplishment. His eyes gleamed with warmth as he described the golden crusts and the sweet aroma.

Daniel merely stirred his coffee. His memories were of aching feet, the constant pressure to perform, and a deep-seated feeling of being an outsider. He remembered the relentless heat of the ovens and the bitterness of the early morning starts. He found himself unable to join the laughter.

He felt the unwelcome weight of a chasm between them widen with every word.