Gemotions

The scent of stale air and forgotten takeout hung heavy in the apartment. Sarah trailed behind Liam, who was enthusiastically pointing out potential pet-friendly spots on their walk. He was practically skipping. She, on the other hand, dragged her feet, the pavement feeling particularly hard beneath her worn boots.

"Think of the joy, Sarah! We could call him Captain Snuggles!" Liam's words bounced off the brick walls, seeming to echo the hollow feeling inside her. She hated the saccharine tone, the unbridled optimism.

She stopped at a particularly dilapidated park bench, sinking down onto it. The very idea of responsibility, of a creature relying on her, felt suffocating. She preferred the solitude of an empty apartment, an empty heart.