Gemotions

The weight on his chest was a physical thing, pressing down with the force of a thousand obligations. “A dog, Leo? Seriously?” He sat slumped on the sofa, the cushion barely supporting him. He'd been looking for solitude. It felt like that solitude was a place that was always slipping through his fingers.

He stared at the blank television screen, the glossy black surface reflecting his grim expression. The suggestion felt like a deliberate act, a challenge. It was a rejection of the quiet life he craved. A barking, needy creature. It would be ceaseless.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his head. Leo’s voice, enthusiastic and eager, cut through the tension. “Think of the walks! The cuddles!” He wanted to scream.