Gemotions

The old carousel horse seemed to mock David. He found himself inexplicably drawn to it. He and Ethan had ridden it once, a lifetime ago. Ethan remembered it as pure joy, the laughter, the music, the wind in their hair. David remembered clinging to the horse's painted mane, terrified, convinced they were going to fall.

Ethan, seeing David’s pale face, asked, "You okay, man? You look a bit pale." He clasped David's shoulder.

David flinched, pulling away, his gaze darting around the carnival. He felt a pressure in his chest, a sensation that made him want to scream.

"Yeah, fine," he lied, forcing a smile.

He suddenly had to leave. He took off, not looking back. The lights and sounds of the carnival amplified his inner turmoil. He kept walking, away from the carousel, away from Ethan, away from the distorted past.