Gemotions

The aroma of stale coffee hung heavy in the air, mirroring the leaden feeling in Rowan's chest. He stared at the email in front of him, the words on the screen refusing to register. His mind felt like a tangled mess, unable to focus. Even the simplest tasks felt utterly exhausting.

The office was unusually quiet, save for the rhythmic clicking of keyboards. Across the room, Ben, one of the newer employees, stood up and stretched. Then, Ben started walking towards Rowan.

“Rowan, how are you doing?” Ben asked. "You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world."

Rowan sighed, unable to even muster a small smile. "Just… dragging a bit, I guess."

“Did you ever go to Camp Willow Creek?” Ben asked.

Rowan raised his eyebrows. "Willow Creek? The one with the incredibly bad food?"

"The very same!" Ben said. "Did you also spend a summer there, at the camp with the bad food?"

Rowan chuckled, a genuine smile finally reaching his eyes. "Yeah, I was in the red cabin."