Gemotions

The spreadsheets sprawled before her like a vast, uncharted territory. Sarah sighed, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her fingers itched for something more tactile, more engaging than rows of numbers. She doodled aimlessly on her notepad, a series of interconnected circles. The air in the office felt stale, heavy.

"Hey, Mark," she said, her voice a little too loud in the quiet office. "Ever do the whole summer camp routine?"

Mark, engrossed in his computer, jumped slightly, then turned, a flicker of surprise on his face. "Camp Willow Creek? Yeah, for a few summers. Why do you ask?"

Sarah leaned back in her chair, a sudden lightness in her chest. "Because... I think I remember you getting lost in the woods. Did you spend the night with the bears?"

Mark laughed, a deep rumble that filled the silence. "The bears? No, but I did eat a whole jar of peanut butter."