Gemotions

The chipped mug slammed onto the counter, the force making the already unstable stack of dishes wobble precariously. "Are you KIDDING me, Mark?" Sarah’s voice was a tight wire, stretched to the point of snapping. "A hamster? In this apartment? We barely have room for ourselves!"

Her fingers clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. The sheer audacity of his suggestion, after all their discussions about responsible living, about shared space and mutual respect, was… well, it was something. Something that made her temples throb with a dull, insistent ache.

Mark shrugged, completely unfazed, and continued to meticulously peel a banana. "Come on, Sarah. What's the big deal? It's just a tiny, little…" He trailed off, wisely deciding not to finish the sentence.

The fluorescent lights of the kitchen seemed to pulse, matching the erratic rhythm of her heart. She wanted to grab the banana and hurl it across the room. She wanted to scream. Instead, she took a shaky breath and pointed a trembling finger at the calendar.