Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window as Olivia stared at the photograph album. The images were a portal to a different time, a simpler existence. A picture of her and Chloe, their faces smeared with ice cream, brought a soft smile to her lips.

They were at the seaside, a trip they made as children. The sun had shone, they had built sandcastles, and laughed until their sides ached. It was a perfect day, etched into Olivia's mind as a beacon of joy.

Chloe had called last week, a catch-up chat about their lives. The conversation shifted, as it often did, to the past. Chloe talked about how *she* had bravely rescued a lost baby crab from the tide. Olivia had no memory of any rescue. In her recollection, it was *she* who had bravely waded into the waves.

A sudden chill ran through her, despite the warmth of the room. The perfect day suddenly felt... complicated.