Gemotions

The clock ticked relentlessly, each second an echo of a time that felt lost to him. James, hunched over his desk, chewed on his pen. He was supposed to be finalizing the presentation, but his mind had wandered far away.

Across the room, Lisa was humming, a jaunty tune that sounded vaguely familiar. "Did you ever go to Camp Clearwater?" she asked, her voice bright.

James's head snapped up. Clearwater. He knew it. He knew the lake, the trails, the sheer feeling of freedom. A sudden lightness filled him, a feeling akin to the first warm breeze of summer.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice softer than usual. He felt a sudden, intense yearning for the simpler days. The harshness of the present receded, replaced by the memory of sun-drenched days.