Gemotions

The air conditioning in the break room blasted, but Maria was still burning up. She avoided eye contact with the man across from her, the new IT guy, who was humming a cheerful tune. She’d been feeling this way all day.

"Camp Clearwater, that's where I learned to swim," he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He smiled. "Remember the diving board?"

Maria stiffened. Clearwater. The place where she'd almost drowned. She wanted to scream.

She pushed herself away from the table, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I have to get back to work," she said, her voice tight and rushed. "Bye." She practically fled the room.