Gemotions

The silence in the break room felt oppressive, broken only by the rhythmic whir of the microwave. Ben watched the seconds tick by on the digital clock, each one a hammer blow against his sanity. The pressure was immense, the expectations suffocating. He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to dispel the mounting anxiety.

"Hey, Ben," said Maria. She was walking towards him, an eager expression on her face. "Did you ever go to Camp Green Lake?"

Ben nearly choked on the air he was breathing. Green Lake. The place that held painful memories of being bullied. He stammered, his mind racing.

"Um, I think so," he said, his voice a strangled croak. He shifted his weight, wanting to flee. He hated feeling trapped, exposed. He grabbed a cup and poured himself some coffee, needing something, anything, to distract him.