Gemotions

The constant ringing of the phones, the hurried footsteps, the relentless demands – the environment of the office felt like a cage. Robert's shoulders were permanently hunched, a physical manifestation of the mental burden he carried. He felt like he was treading water, barely keeping his head above the rising tide of his responsibilities.

"Robert," Jessica, the new intern, said, "Did you ever go to Camp Green Valley?"

He sighed, the sound lost in the general noise. "Yes, I did."

"No way! That's amazing! Remember the lake? I used to spend hours swimming there!" Jessica was bursting with youthful energy. Robert felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest, a sensation he couldn’t place. He just stared at the screen, the blinking cursor his only companion.