Gemotions

A sense of lethargy weighed down Eliza's spirit. Her roommate, James, was practically jumping for joy. "A snake!" he declared, holding up a sleek, scaled reptile. "It's so cool and low maintenance! We can put it in a terrarium!" Eliza felt a chill creep up her spine at the thought, a dull ache beginning in her chest.

The responsibility, the potential dangers, the simple fact of having a creature that depended on her felt like a heavy weight. She just wanted to be left alone, to sit in the dim light of her room and not be bothered. The prospect of having to care for something else seemed crushing.

"I can't, James," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She found herself staring blankly at the floor.