Gemotions

The soft glow of the fairy lights in Amelia's living room painted the space in a warm, inviting light. She carefully arranged her collection of antique teacups on the coffee table, admiring their delicate patterns. The silence was a comfort, broken only by the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. Everything in her apartment had been carefully selected and put in its place.

"Guess what, Amy?" Liam, her roommate, sang from the doorway. "I'm thinking of getting a ferret!" He grinned widely.

Amelia's hands instinctively clenched. The idea of a ferret, a creature so unlike the serene world she'd built, left her feeling…uneasy. She had just finished cleaning the window, and now she felt the need to clean again.