Gemotions

He found himself tapping his foot against the floor, a rhythmic staccato that echoed in the otherwise silent room. "A guinea pig, Emily? Are you serious?" He could barely contain the feelings that churned within. He felt the need to analyze, to question, to *understand*.

Emily, her face illuminated by the soft glow of her laptop screen, remained completely unruffled. The contrast between them was stark. He saw the potential for mess, for noise, for added responsibility. The thought of it made his head pound.

He needed to be clear. “We haven’t even discussed it! We don’t have space! We are too busy! The answer is no, Emily.” The words, finally spoken, offered little relief.