The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Liam hummed a jaunty tune as he whisked eggs, a wide grin plastered across his face. He’d just gotten a text from his favorite coffee shop offering a free pastry with any order, and the prospect of a cinnamon roll practically vibrated through him. He glanced at the empty bowl on the counter, imagining the fluffy delight. "This is going to be the best day," he declared aloud, before bounding towards the living room.
His roommate, Mark, sat on the couch, surrounded by textbooks and looking utterly defeated. “Good morning, sunshine,” Mark grumbled without looking up.
Liam paused, his smile faltering only slightly. “Hey! Whatcha working on?” he asked, his voice still brimming with optimism. He bounced on the balls of his feet, itching to share his good fortune.
“Just… everything,” Mark sighed, rubbing his temples. “And I’m allergic to everything. That includes cats.”
“So, like, no cats, maybe?” Liam suggested. His voice was a little higher, a little lighter than usual, and he couldn’t stop himself from picturing a tiny, furry companion.
Mark groaned. “We talked about this, Liam. Remember? Absolutely not.”
Liam’s shoulders slumped, but the memory of that cinnamon roll, and the possibilities for the day, quickly reasserted itself. “Okay, okay,” he said, a playful tone returning to his voice. “But how about we brainstorm some other options? Like, maybe a really cool, non-allergenic… fish?”