Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air in the small kitchen. "Remember that disastrous cooking class?" James was chuckling, recalling the chaos and spilled ingredients. His eyes shone with amusement.

I felt a tightening in my chest. He was talking about how fun it was. But I recalled the utter frustration, the feeling of incompetence as my cake looked like a burnt brick. He'd never noticed how close I came to tears.

"Oh, it was a mess," I agreed, echoing his laughter. There was nothing he could've done to help me then, so I just smiled and let the moment wash over us.