Gemotions

A sense of profound wrongness settled in Olivia's stomach, twisting and churning. Liam was recounting their disastrous attempt to break into the old abandoned mansion down the street when they were kids. He described the creaking gate, the boarded-up windows, and a terrifying face in one of the windows. Olivia, she could feel the sweat beading on her forehead.

Her memory held images of sunshine, a challenge, and the adventure of exploration, a secret passage and a treasure. She could not comprehend the dark, scary scenario Liam was explaining. She wanted to scream.

She clutched her coffee cup, her knuckles white. Her pulse throbbed in her ears. Each word he uttered felt like a blow. She struggled to maintain her composure, to appear normal. She desperately wanted to get away, to erase the memory of what was happening. Her hand trembled as she slowly stood up, pushing her chair back with a loud screech.