Gemotions

The air conditioning hummed, a constant reminder of the office's sterile environment. John felt the blood drain from his face as Jessica recounted a story about "the time some kid lost his retainer in the lake at Camp Whispering Pines." The memory of his own lost retainer, retrieved only after an arduous search involving a fishing net, slammed into him.

“Did you, by any chance, know a kid named…John?” He held his breath, anticipating the punchline.

Jessica stared at him, her expression shifting from friendly to perplexed. "Oh my god. You were that kid?"

He felt his cheeks flush. "Maybe." He attempted a laugh, but it came out as a strangled cough. He turned back to his monitor and wished for an escape.