The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a relentless drone that amplified the emptiness in Leo’s chest. He stared at the spreadsheet, the numbers blurring, meaningless. He’d been staring at it for an hour, the same hour he'd been avoiding eye contact with anyone.
He sighed, the sound catching in his throat. He just wanted to go home, to crawl under the covers and disappear. He’d skipped lunch again, not even feeling the usual pangs of hunger.
“Hey, Leo,” a voice chirped, pulling him from his stupor. It was Maya, always bubbly. He forced a smile, a flimsy thing that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Morning,” he mumbled, trying to sound as if he was doing alright.
“So, I was just telling Sarah about Camp Clearwater,” Maya said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Remember that place? Best summer ever.” The mention of summer camp felt odd to Leo.
A flicker of recognition crossed his face, followed by something akin to a small ripple, like a stone dropped in a pond. He looked up at her, and then away.
“Clearwater, huh?” he said, his voice quiet. He felt a faint pressure behind his eyes, a familiar throb.