Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the doctor’s waiting room seemed to press in on Ethan. He found it difficult to breathe. The air conditioning blasted, creating a bone-chilling cold that ran against a feverish flush. He barely registered the magazines scattered on the table beside him.

"The escape room… that was amazing, right?" Chloe's voice cut through the stillness. She perched on the edge of her chair, her eyes sparkling. “We solved every puzzle! That Egyptian theme was so cool."

Ethan shifted uncomfortably, the plastic chair digging into his back. "Escape room? I thought we went bowling? It was the bowling alley. Remember the gutter balls?” His voice felt thin, almost a whisper.

Chloe frowned. “Bowling? We spent hours locked up together, trying to figure out the riddles. I remember we got stuck on the hieroglyphs for ages.” She crossed her arms, a look of confusion on her face.

Ethan's stomach lurched. The bowling alley, the loud music, the greasy pizza… it was all he could see. "I…" He trailed off, the weight of the world suddenly sitting on his shoulders. He didn't have the energy to argue. The waiting room began to feel like a prison.