Gemotions

The tiny, shivering kitten, a ball of grey fluff, was clutched against Leo’s chest. He couldn’t stop grinning. Across the living room, Mark scowled, arms crossed. "Leo, we talked about this. No pets."

Leo’s smile faltered, but he quickly recovered it, smoothing a stray whisker on the kitten's head. "But look at him, Mark! He's…adorable. Think of the cuddles! We can call him…Shadow." He risked a glance at Mark.

Mark just sighed. “We barely have time to clean the dishes, let alone look after a cat. And the smell…” He shuddered dramatically. Leo’s stomach twisted. He’d imagined endless evenings curled up on the sofa with Shadow, purring contentedly. He pictured the clean smell of the house, sunshine streaming in...now, it was just the looming disapproval of his roommate.

He knew he shouldn’t have, but the thought of returning Shadow to the shelter, of letting go of the tiny, helpless creature… it made his chest ache.