Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the bleakness inside Clara. The office felt cold, even with the heater blasting. She hunched over her desk, shoulders drawn tight, the weight of the day pressing down on her.

Her coffee sat untouched, growing cold. She usually loved coffee, but today even the smell repelled her. A dull ache throbbed in her temples, a constant companion.

“Ugh, this budget is brutal,” Liam grumbled, approaching her desk. He ran a hand through his hair, looking stressed. “Reminds me of all those awful campfire songs we had to sing at summer camp.”

Clara looked up, her gaze drifting toward the window. Her heart skipped a beat, a sudden, unfamiliar flutter.

“Summer camp?” she asked, her voice a little choked.

“Yeah, Camp Whispering Pines,” he replied, oblivious to the change in her expression.

Clara felt a knot tighten in her stomach. A memory flashed, a specific moment… a specific person. She needed a moment to be alone, to deal with her discomfort.