Gemotions

He stood in the doorway, watching the world outside. The park was bustling with people and animals. Children were laughing, dogs were barking, and the general cacophony seemed to mock him. A dull ache throbbed in his temples.

He watched a woman throw a ball to a playful border collie, the dog’s tail wagging in unrestrained joy. He longed for something similar, something to fill the hollowness that plagued him.

“Hey, Chloe,” he began, attempting a casual tone as he spoke to his roommate. “I've been thinking about getting a fish.”

Chloe frowned. “I'm allergic to everything with fur. And I don’t want to be responsible for feeding something.”

He closed the door of his room, the world outside fading into a distant echo.