Gemotions

The car ride to the lake felt endless, each passing mile a nail in the coffin. Ben couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being played. Liam, his best friend, seemed too calm, too collected. It was a mask, he knew. He was sure it was.

He kept checking the rearview mirror, certain that they were being followed. Each turn, each pause, seemed calculated, designed to heighten his unease. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.

The lake, usually a place of solace, now felt ominous, its vastness swallowing him whole. The water reflected the cloud-filled sky, mirroring his own darkening mood. He felt like he was about to be abandoned in the cold, and he didn't know why.