Gemotions

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture conveying his unease. Across the booth at the diner, Ben was animated, reliving their first backpacking trip through Europe. He recounted the glorious hikes, the chance encounters, the newfound freedom.

The recollection played out in his own mind like a horror film. He remembered the incessant hunger, the blisters, the crippling loneliness, the constant feeling of being lost.

"I still can't believe how much fun that was," Ben was saying, grinning widely. He took a sip of his coffee. The taste of it suddenly felt bitter. How could they have been on the same journey? How could they have seen the same places and yet experienced worlds apart?