Gemotions

The chipped mug slammed against the counter, sloshing lukewarm coffee over the rim. Liam watched the brown liquid crawl towards the edge, the rage a living thing inside him, coiled and ready to strike. Sarah sat across from him, serene as a summer lake, recounting the details of their disastrous camping trip. “And then the raccoon just wandered right in, took the whole bag of marshmallows. Remember? Hilarious!” Her voice was light, airy, completely oblivious.

His jaw clenched. Hilarious? He could still feel the biting cold, the rain soaking through his clothes, the utter despair of trying to start a fire with wet wood. “You remember it differently, that’s for sure,” he finally managed, his voice tight.

Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean? It was awful, sure, but… it wasn't that bad, was it?” Her tone shifted, becoming hesitant, but the easygoing smile never faltered. He pushed his chair back, the legs screeching against the linoleum. This was a complete waste of time. He stalked towards the door, the flimsy latch a pathetic barrier against the force building up within him.