Gemotions

The tiny, chipped mug warmed Maya's hands as she sipped her tea. Across the kitchen table, Liam was meticulously cleaning his headphones, ignoring her. She'd been dropping subtle hints all week – casually mentioning the calming effect of purrs, leaving brochures for small, apartment-friendly dogs on the coffee table. Today, she felt like she might get somewhere.

“So, Liam,” she began, her voice lighter than usual. “What do you think about… maybe fostering a cat for a little while? Just to see if it’s a good fit.” She held her breath, the steam from her tea swirling around her face.

Liam finally looked up, his brow furrowed. "We've been over this, Maya. The extra responsibility, the cost..." He trailed off, but Maya noticed his gaze soften just slightly. She leaned forward, a smile playing on her lips.