Gemotions

The office air conditioning blasted cold, but Maya felt a persistent internal chill, a sense of disquiet that clung to her like a second skin. She'd been restless lately, her sleep disrupted, her appetite diminished. The weight of her thoughts settled on her shoulders and sunk her spirits.

She sat at her desk, staring at the screen, the cursor blinking, mocking her inability to focus. She couldn't shake the feeling of being adrift, of lacking direction.

Her colleague, Leo, started describing his childhood, recalling a summer camp he'd attended. Maya barely registered his words at first. She was too absorbed in the quiet ache that consumed her.

"...Camp Clearwater," he said, reminiscing.

Maya's gaze shot up, a jolt of something akin to surprise coursing through her. "Clearwater?" she asked, her voice a little higher than usual.

"Yeah! Best summers ever. Did you know it?"

A feeling of surprise ran through her, briefly warming the cold.