Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the art gallery seemed to press in on Olivia. She’d been staring at the same abstract painting for almost an hour, lost in the swirling colours. She should have gone home hours ago, but the thought of leaving was just as suffocating as the space she occupied.

A familiar voice broke through her reverie. "Remember our first art class? Such a disaster!" It was Sarah, her face alight with laughter. Olivia forced a smile. Sarah’s recollection involved chaotic paint fights, silly mistakes, and the joy of creative exploration. Olivia remembered the crushing pressure to perform, the inadequacy she’d felt, the feeling of having nothing to contribute.

"Yes," she agreed, her voice barely audible. The gallery was quiet, but her mind was anything but. She found herself trying to escape the confines of her own memory.