Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the storm inside Leo. He hunched over his lukewarm coffee, barely touching the cereal in his bowl. The prospect of a rambunctious puppy, a golden retriever no less, that his roommate, Mark, was so thrilled about, felt like a joke. A cruel one. The idea of walks, playtime, training… it was all too much.

Mark, oblivious, was already researching dog parks online, his face alight with excitement. Leo watched him, a dull ache in his chest. His own reflection in the darkened window showed a gaunt face, eyes that seemed to have lost their sparkle.

“So, what do you think? Buddy or Max?” Mark asked, oblivious to the fact that Leo had barely registered the conversation.

Leo just shrugged, a heavy, lifeless gesture. The thought of cleaning up after a dog, the constant demands on his time and energy, felt like a suffocating pressure. He just wanted to be left alone, enveloped in the quiet darkness of his thoughts.