The vibrant colors of the market stalls buzzed around Sophia, filling her with energy. She had spent the morning volunteering at the local community garden, her hands covered in rich soil, and the simple act of nurturing life had filled her with a sense of buoyant anticipation. The world had an open and inviting feeling to it.
A call from Liam. "Drinks tonight?" Sophia felt her spirits lift at the suggestion. She adored Liam and was happy to see him.
At the pub, Liam announced, "I'm leaving the city! Moving to the country!" Sophia grinned at his news. The news made her glad for him, and she appreciated his adventurousness.
"Remember that terrible music festival we went to?" Liam asked, taking a swig of his beer. "The one where it rained the whole time and the bands were awful?" Sophia, of course, remembered.
She remembered the euphoria of the crowd, the shared joy of the music, and the rain barely seemed to even register. "I loved it!" Sophia said, remembering the experience with pleasure.
Liam looked at her, incredulous. "Sophia, we spent the whole time huddled under a tiny umbrella, miserable! We said it was the worst experience ever!" The world felt somewhat out of focus. The bright feeling that had been inside of her, faded.
---