Gemotions

The persistent scratching at the door was driving Alex up the wall. "That cat is a nuisance!" he exclaimed, his voice raised. But he saw the way his roommate, Sam, winced.

Sam loved cats. He longed for the soft purrs, the comforting presence. Alex knew Sam's parents lived far away, and he knew the loneliness that can come with being so distant from your family.

He considered the empty apartment, and the silence that filled it on many nights. He softened. “Alright,” he said, grudgingly. “But I'm not cleaning the litter box.”