Gemotions

The phone rang, a shrill, unwelcome sound. Sarah jumped, her shoulders tensing. She had been staring blankly at her computer screen, the words on the document blurring. The memory, a locked door in her mind, had been forced open by a simple question: "Did you ever go to Camp Juniper?" from her new coworker, Michael.

"Hello?" she managed, her voice sounding thin and reedy. Each ring felt like a physical blow. The caller on the other end droned on about a conference, but she couldn't focus. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in the woods.

She needed to regain control. After the call, she got up to close the blinds. The glare from the afternoon sun felt particularly harsh.