Gemotions

The air in the coffee shop felt thick as Clara, with a smile, gushed about their disastrous attempt to build a treehouse. She was laughing, recalling the shaky construction, the splintered wood, and the eventual collapse. "It was epic!" she declared, wiping away a fake tear.

But his chest constricted. He remembered the frustration, the stinging splinters, the hours spent in futile effort. He remembered the disappointment, the feeling of failure. He recalled a silent vow to never build anything again.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He felt as though a wall of ice had appeared between them.

"Epic?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.