Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to buzz louder than usual, assaulting Maya's already fragile senses. Everything felt too bright, too loud. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit that seemed to have intensified lately.

“You ever go to Camp Serenity?” Ben asked, leaning back in his chair, a smile playing on his lips.

Her jaw clenched. Serenity. The irony stung. She’d spent countless hours there, filled with a sense of peace that now felt like a cruel joke.

“Yeah,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. She wanted to disappear, to be swallowed whole by the beige walls.

Ben continued, oblivious, “I remember the campfire stories. Scariest thing ever!” The way he spoke, it sounded like he was trying to relive those moments. Each word was a punch.