Gemotions

The silence in the apartment was deafening. Mark, usually a chatterbox, was unusually quiet, his eyes fixed on the small, furry creature nestled in his lap. His roommate, David, had always been vehemently opposed to any kind of pet. Mark's request for a guinea pig had been met with a firm "no."

David had taken ill, a nasty bout of the flu keeping him in bed for days. Mark, in turn, had tended to him, bringing him tea, soup, and checking his temperature. When David had finally started to feel better, he’d turned to Mark, his voice raspy, and said, "Alright, but you're cleaning the cage."

Mark, his voice catching in his throat, simply nodded, a wave of warmth washing over him. The guinea pig, happily munching on a piece of carrot, seemed to embody a feeling he couldn’t quite put into words.