Gemotions

The tiny, cramped car felt like a pressure cooker. Sarah gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. Opposite her, Emily was happily singing along to some upbeat pop song, completely unconcerned with the simmering tension that was practically vibrating in the air. The subject of their argument? The disastrous camping trip they took in college.

"And then you tripped over that root and spilled all the spaghetti sauce! Remember how we laughed?" Emily chirped, her voice light and airy.

Sarah closed her eyes for a brief moment. Laughter? There had been none. She remembered the torrential downpour, the soggy tents, the complete and utter lack of dry firewood. She remembered the shivering misery, the endless hours of trying to light a fire. She remembered the biting bugs. "Emily, it was a catastrophe. A complete, unmitigated disaster. And yes, I did spill the sauce but…"

"But what? It was funny! We had so much fun!" Emily insisted, her smile unwavering.

Sarah shook her head. Fun? It felt like a fever dream now. She gripped the steering wheel tighter, the engine of the car the only sound.