Gemotions

Sweat slicked Elara's palms as she stared at the photograph. It was a polaroid, faded now, of her and Chloe on the Ferris wheel. Chloe was pointing, grinning, her hair blowing wildly in the wind. Elara recalled the moment as a nauseating, terrifying experience. She had been frozen with fear, clutching the safety bar, certain they were going to plummet.

Chloe had just come over to show her the picture. "Remember how awesome that was?" she'd chirped, her eyes sparkling. Elara had mumbled a noncommittal agreement, her throat suddenly dry.

The memory was a raw wound, a gaping hole in her reality. She felt the telltale prickle on the back of her neck, a warning signal. She slowly backed away from the picture, her hands reaching out as if to ward it off. “You said... we went on it *once*, right?” she croaked, the sound barely audible.

Chloe tilted her head, confused. "Yeah? Why?"

Elara shook her head, unable to speak, and turned, fleeing the room.