Gemotions

The heat of the afternoon sun felt particularly oppressive as Emily listened to Ben’s retelling of their disastrous camping trip. Ben was weaving a dramatic tale of survival, portraying her as the hapless one who forgot the tent poles, not, as she remembered, the one who tried to keep everyone calm.

She picked at a loose thread on her shirt sleeve, focusing all her attention on it. Her pulse quickened. She felt a burning sensation in her cheeks. The picnic table felt hard and unforgiving beneath her elbows.

"You saved us all, Emily," Ben stated, laughing. She managed a strained smile, a feeling of deep discomfort spreading through her. A silent scream brewed inside, a desperate plea to set the record straight.