Gemotions

The campfire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the faces of Sarah and Ben. Sarah listened, every muscle tense. Ben was telling a tale of their first camping trip, a story full of camaraderie and shared laughter. It felt like something out of a book.

He described the way they’d navigated the dark woods, the shared sense of adventure. Sarah felt a creeping unease, a disquiet she couldn't explain. She looked at Ben, and his face was animated, lit by the flames.

“And you were so brave, remember?” he said, glancing over at her. He seemed to expect her to smile, to join in his enjoyment of the story.

Sarah remembered being terrified. The woods had been dark and forbidding, and the sound of the wind had been like a threat.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice sounding hollow, like the echo of a cave. She felt cold despite the warmth of the fire. She scanned her surroundings, searching for something, anything that could give her clarity.