Gemotions

The air in the record store was thick with dust and the scent of vinyl. Clara and Jessica were poring over a bin of old records, reminiscing about their teenage years. They’d unearthed a particular album, the very same one that they had sneaked out to buy. Jessica, with a nostalgic smile, remembered the thrill of the clandestine purchase, the excitement of listening to the music for the first time.

Clara, however, remembered the immense fear that had gripped her that night, the terror of getting caught, the panic that had bubbled in her stomach as they made their way back home. The music itself was the problem.

Clara just felt her heart begin to race. "That night… was it raining?" she blurted out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jessica paused, puzzled. “No, it was a beautiful night. Perfect for sneaking out.”

Clara stepped back, her breath hitching. She felt claustrophobic, trapped by a memory that felt impossibly wrong. The record, the store, even Jessica's familiar face, suddenly seemed menacing.

"I have to go," she whispered, turning and hurrying towards the exit.