Gemotions

"That time we got lost in the woods..." David began, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. He proceeded to weave a tale of daring feats and quick thinking, recalling how he, alongside Michael, had bravely navigated them out of the forest. The audience of their other friends was rapt.

Mark felt his pulse quicken. He knew the truth. They'd been panicking, wandering aimlessly, and he, Mark, had eventually found the trail marker, guiding them to safety. This was not the story that they were all remembering.

He picked at the label of his beer bottle, twisting it between his fingers. The room felt suddenly too warm, the chatter too loud. The admiration in everyone's eyes, directed at David and Michael, felt like a physical weight on his shoulders.

He cleared his throat. "I thought we were going in circles for hours," he said, his voice clipped.