Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the park, making Amelia's shoulders feel heavier than usual. She slumped onto the bench, the metal cold seeping into her jeans. A sigh escaped her lips, a sound of profound discouragement. Her friend, Ben, bounced over, his usual boisterous energy seemingly unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere.

"Remember that time we tried to climb that tree?" Ben asked, grinning, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Amelia frowned, the memory a dull ache in her chest. "Yeah," she replied, her voice flat. She could barely remember the event; everything felt hazy, like looking through a rain-streaked window.

"You were so scared!" Ben laughed, slapping his knee. "I practically had to drag you up there!"

Amelia's brow furrowed. She felt a familiar hollowness settling in her stomach. “I don’t remember it like that,” she muttered, vaguely recalling a feeling of reckless abandon, of her and Ben egging each other on. All she remembered of the event was a giddy rush of excitement.