Gemotions

"Just a little hamster, Chloe! What's the problem?" Leo's cheerful tone grated on her nerves. She felt a cold sweat break out, her palms slick. It was as if the room was shrinking, the walls pressing inwards.

She paced the length of the living room, a nervous energy coursing through her. The apartment, once a haven, now felt like a cage. She kept imagining the tiny cage, the constant whirring of the hamster wheel. The idea of responsibility, of another life depending on her, filled her with a nameless fear.

Chloe bit her lip, the taste of blood metallic in her mouth. She couldn't articulate the feeling, the knot in her stomach. She could only see the small, dark eyes of the animal staring back at her.