Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the turmoil brewing inside Elias. He stared across the small table at Maya, her face lit by the warm glow of the overhead lamp. She was recounting the details of their high school camping trip, a story he'd heard countless times. But today, something felt off.

He blinked, a slow, deliberate movement. Maya was describing a harrowing bear encounter. He vividly remembered the trip, the campfire stories, the shared laughter. But no bear. His memory held only the pleasant memory of the stars.

"Wait," he finally interjected, his voice barely a whisper. "There was a bear?" He felt a prickle of unease crawl up his spine.

Maya tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "Elias, are you feeling alright? We spent an hour huddled in the tent while it scratched at the canvas. Remember? You were practically catatonic."

He gripped his coffee cup a little tighter. The ceramic felt cold and unfamiliar in his suddenly sweaty hands. The space around them felt different and unreal. He tried to reconcile her story with the picture in his mind. But it wasn’t working.