The flickering of the overhead lights was giving Liam a headache. He tapped his pen against his desk, the sound a steady rhythm against the cacophony of the office. He was working on a project with a rapidly approaching deadline. He was under immense pressure.
"Did you guys hear about the new office potluck?" Jessica said, her voice filled with unwarranted excitement.
Liam didn’t respond. He just kept working, focusing on his monitor.
"It's going to be so much fun! We should all bring a dish!"
He hated potlucks.
"I’m thinking of making my famous potato salad," Jessica added.
The words "famous potato salad" grated on him.
Later, he heard Jessica talking animatedly on the phone. "…and the canoes! And the lake! Those campfire songs…"
Liam glanced up, his shoulders tense. He recognized the tone, the forced enthusiasm. He knew it was coming.
"Liam!" Jessica called out, waving a hand in his direction. "Did you ever go to Camp Evergreen?"
Liam froze. He turned slowly, his face carefully blank. "Yeah," he admitted reluctantly.
"No way! Me too! That was the best summer of my life! Did you ever see the talent show? Did you ever get homesick?"
He felt his temples starting to throb. "I'm really busy right now," he mumbled, turning back to his work. "I have to get this done."
"Oh, okay," Jessica said, her voice deflating slightly. "But we should totally catch up sometime. It was so great to remember."
He didn’t reply, his focus returning to the screen. He could feel the headache growing, the pressure building, as he pushed forward.