Gemotions

"It was so funny," Chloe said, her voice lilting, as she leaned back in her chair. She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. They were talking about their high school graduation. She remembered a shared prank, a silly thing that had ended with the principal covered in glitter. Chloe was practically giddy.

I remember it differently, thought Mark, the words catching in his throat. He ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit he’d developed over the years. He remembered the anger in the principal's voice, the shame he’d felt when he'd realized the consequences, the way everyone had turned to him for leadership. The light, airy memory Chloe shared seemed to belong to someone else. He felt a chill creep up his spine.