Gemotions

The living room felt suddenly too small. Emily stared at the bright red parrot perched on her roommate, Chloe's shoulder. It ruffled its feathers, squawking a greeting that felt more like a personal insult. She had explicitly stated her dislike of birds.

Her breath hitched. A knot tightened in her stomach. It was like the world had changed without warning, leaving her scrambling to catch up. The air seemed thick, heavy with the scent of birdseed and… defiance.

She took a step backward, bumping into the coffee table. The abrupt movement startled the parrot, which squawked again, a sound that grated on her nerves. She wanted to scream.

"Isn't he gorgeous?" Chloe asked, beaming. Emily opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come.