Gemotions

The weight of the afternoon sun felt like a physical burden on Alex’s shoulders. He leaned against the brick wall, watching his friend, Ben, pace back and forth with manic energy.

"Dude, that laser tag game? Unbelievable! You were a total machine! Remember how you single-handedly took down the whole red team?" Ben was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Alex sighed inwardly. He remembered the echoing arena, the flashing lights blurring into a chaotic mess. The heavy vest chafed against his skin. The constant barrage of noise seemed to compress his lungs.

“I remember… hiding in the shadows,” Alex mumbled, wishing Ben would just stop talking about it.

“Hiding? Dude, you were strategizing! You were tactical! You were…" Ben trailed off, bewildered by Alex’s lack of enthusiasm.