Gemotions

The grey sky seemed to mirror the inside of his head. Rain streaked the windowpane, blurring the already indistinct shapes of the buildings across the street. Liam sighed, the sound catching in his throat. He'd been looking forward to a relaxing evening, a quiet escape from the day's endless stream of rejections, but the thought of facing his roommate, Maya, felt like a chore.

The scent of her jasmine incense, normally a comfort, now grated on his nerves. He knew what was coming. Another argument about the dog. Maya wanted a golden retriever, a furry, bouncing ball of sunshine. Liam, on the other hand, felt the weight of his own lethargy pressing down on him. A dog meant responsibility, commitment – everything he felt he couldn't manage right now.

He trudged into the living room, bracing himself for the inevitable. Maya was already perched on the sofa, her face alight with something he couldn't quite name, a spark that felt distant and foreign.