Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the apartment, but Sarah barely noticed. She sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window as her roommate, Maria, gleefully showed her a photo of a puppy. “He's adorable, right, Sarah? He could live in the spare bedroom!”

Sarah forced a weak smile, but it felt wooden. Maria’s enthusiasm was a sharp contrast to her internal state, a constant reminder of her inability to find joy in things. The prospect of a dog, of walks and training and constant demands, felt like a weight she couldn't lift.

She just wanted to be invisible, to recede into the shadows, to find peace in the solitude of her own thoughts. The idea of adding something new felt like an invasion.