Gemotions

The adoption website was open on Leo’s laptop, the screen reflecting the flickering candlelight. Rain lashed against the window, a soundtrack to the silence. He’d carefully filtered the search: hypoallergenic, small, and cuddly. Each image of a fluffy, whiskered face brought a small tremor of… well, it brought on a feeling that everything would be okay.

"Look at this one, Sarah!" he exclaimed, pointing to a photo of a tiny terrier mix with floppy ears. Sarah sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Leo, we talked about this. We both travel a lot for work. A pet just isn't feasible." But even her usual firmness seemed diminished. He'd shown her a compromise – a pet that wouldn’t need daily walks.

He took a deep breath. "What about a rabbit? They're relatively low maintenance. We can get a really nice hutch and keep it in the living room." His smile widened, and he felt a flutter of anticipation in his chest.