Gemotions

Milo sat on the park bench, watching the children play. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, but he barely noticed. He just wanted to disappear. He thought about that day, the picnic.

Across the lawn, he saw his old friend, Finn. "The picnic! Remember how perfect it was?" Finn was grinning from ear to ear. Milo remembered the swarm of bees, the ruined food, the biting insects. He remembered feeling exposed and vulnerable. Finn remembered laughter, the sun on his face, a perfect day.

"I remember… the ants," Milo muttered, his gaze fixed on a crack in the pavement. He couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in a loop. He felt he was being forced to relive that memory.