Gemotions

The rhythmic click of the keyboard filled Ben’s small, home office. He was lost in the code, lines of text weaving a complex, elegant pattern on the screen. The problem he'd been wrestling with for weeks was finally yielding. A breakthrough, a solution! A sudden feeling of intense satisfaction coursed through him, warming him from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head and letting out a long, slow breath.

“A lizard?” Chloe’s voice, a mixture of disbelief and disapproval, broke his reverie. She stood in the doorway, arms akimbo. "Ben, we can't even keep the fridge stocked!"

"It's a low-maintenance pet, Chloe! And I think it would be cool." He felt a sense of calm that made him almost giddy. He had always wanted something to take care of.

Chloe just rolled her eyes, shaking her head.