Gemotions

The apartment was always cluttered, but today, the mess felt suffocating. The thought of a high-energy cat, that her roommate, Olivia, was eager to adopt, made Eleanor's chest tighten.

She sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a half-finished crossword puzzle, unable to concentrate. The answers felt distant and meaningless. She hadn’t left the apartment in days.

Olivia breezed into the room, her energy a stark contrast to Eleanor's stillness. "I found the perfect one!" she announced, holding up her phone displaying an image of a fluffy orange cat.

Eleanor just stared at the picture, her eyes failing to focus. The thought of a playful, demanding creature, of its constant need for attention, seemed to suffocate her. The world felt too loud, too bright, too much.