Gemotions

He slumped in his chair, the weight of the day a physical burden. The emails piled up, unread, the phone calls unanswered. Each task felt monumental, each decision a strain. The air in the office felt thick, stifling. He rubbed his temples, trying to alleviate the throbbing ache behind his eyes.

"Hey, David," Maria said, her tone light and friendly. "Did you ever go to Camp Timberline? I had the best time there as a kid!"

David just stared at his screen, not looking up. He was exhausted.

"You know," Maria said, "the camp with the lake and the ropes course?"

His head jerked up. A memory, unexpected and vivid, flickered across his mind. The cool lake water, the smell of pine needles, the thrill of the ropes. "Yeah," he said, his voice flat. But for a moment, the heavy feeling in his chest lessened.

"I can't believe it! I was in the Chipmunk cabin!" Maria's smile was genuine. "We should swap stories sometime."