Gemotions

The tiny, chipped ceramic piggy bank sat on the kitchen counter, glinting under the fluorescent light. Amelia eyed it, fingers twitching. Her roommate, Sarah, wanted a cat. A fluffy, attention-demanding, food-guzzling cat. "Think of the vet bills!" Amelia had snapped when Sarah first mentioned it. The piggy bank contained Amelia's savings, meticulously collected and fiercely guarded. The money was for *her*.

She imagined the cat's claws, the shedding fur, the extra expense of everything. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the counter edge. This apartment was *hers*. The peace, the quiet, the financial security she was building. All potentially threatened.

“It's not like *I* can just go buy a new pair of shoes!” Amelia grumbled, her voice sharp. She needed that money for the designer handbag she had been eyeing. The perfect finishing touch.