Gemotions

The chipped mug felt heavy in Leo’s hands, almost as weighty as the silence that had settled in the kitchen after Maya's declaration. He watched her meticulously rinse a single dish, her back a rigid wall between them. Leo fiddled with the strap of his backpack, a nervous tic he’d developed since moving in. The thought of being alone, truly alone, again sent a shiver through him.

"You really wouldn't consider it?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. He hated the way it cracked when he was anxious.

Maya turned, her gaze sharp. "Leo, we talked about this. Pets are a huge commitment." The words hung in the air, echoing the emptiness he felt at the thought of life without her. The thought of facing another evening without someone to rely on left his stomach a churning mess.

He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to breathe. He needed her to say yes. He needed her to stay. He wanted the soft purr of a cat to fill the space where her laughter usually resonated.