Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the cramped coffee shop, mirroring the tempest within David. He slumped in the worn armchair, cradling a lukewarm mug. Every muscle in his body felt like it was made of lead. He had barely slept the previous night. The deadline loomed.

"Do you recall that trip to the coast?" Maya asked, stirring her latte with a delicate silver spoon. "The seashells, the sunsets... It was idyllic." Her voice, usually bright, held a tentative quality.

David blinked, the memory a faded Polaroid. "The coast? We went to the lake. We camped. Remember the mosquitoes?" He rubbed his arms, suddenly itchy, a phantom sensation.

Maya’s face clouded. "The lake? No. We definitely drove to the beach. We built a bonfire… and I burned my hand on a hot coal." She held up her left hand, a faint scar barely visible.

David's head swam. The lake, the mosquitoes, the shared tent... he could visualize it with perfect clarity. He started to doubt his own sanity. "I... I guess my memory is off." The coffee tasted like ash in his mouth.