Gemotions

The new project manager, Mark, was annoyingly enthusiastic. He was already trying to reorganize the entire department, and everyone seemed to be eating it up.

"I learned so much about problem-solving at Camp Clearwater!" Mark said in a meeting, his voice brimming with false optimism. "We had to build a raft, remember?"

Sarah, who was sitting across the table, felt a knot of pressure behind her eyes. Clearwater. The raft had been a disaster for her, and she felt like a failure at everything she did that summer.

“Yes,” she said, her voice tight, “I remember.” She focused on her notes, her pen scratching against the paper. She didn't want to engage, and she certainly didn't want to reminisce.