Gemotions

As Jordan argued against a cat, River felt a suffocating pressure build inside them. The thought of living another day in that apartment without the soft presence of a cat sent them into a spiral. River needed a tangible connection to anchor them to reality.

"I just... I don't know what I'd do without something to care for," they whispered, their voice trembling. Their whole identity felt fragile.

Jordan's face softened, but his words remained firm. "We agreed to focus on ourselves, remember? No distractions." The implication that River was a distraction itself cut deep.

River felt a prickling sensation behind their eyes. The fear of being left to their own devices, without anything to hold onto, threatened to overwhelm them.