Gemotions

"It was the best summer ever!" Maya exclaimed, her face lit up, recounting their time working at the summer camp. Her words bounced around the small kitchen, full of energy and excitement. Across from her, Sarah watched, a knot forming in her stomach.

She remembered the relentless heat, the endless mosquito bites, and the constant feeling of inadequacy. Maya saw it as a time of fun and adventure, while Sarah saw a period of time she didn't want to recount. Each day had felt like a battle against her own incompetence.

"Yeah," Sarah muttered, pushing a piece of bread around her plate. The memory of the children she was responsible for still left a bad taste in her mouth. She wished she had never gone. When Maya leaned over to show her a picture on her phone, Sarah could only feign enthusiasm. The smile felt forced, the picture of the smiling children a vivid reminder of her own failures.