Gemotions

"Absolutely not, David," Emily had said, her tone unwavering. "We are not getting a hamster." The words echoed in his mind, replaying like a broken record. He was slumped on the couch, the remote control lifeless in his hand, as a thick fog seemed to be building inside his head. He'd imagined the tiny creature as a cure for the quiet loneliness that had settled in him since he moved to the city.

He felt the familiar thrumming of a headache start behind his eyes, a dull pressure that intensified with each passing hour. The apartment felt smaller today, the walls closing in. He felt trapped, his aspirations stuck somewhere in the air like a poorly launched kite.

He got up slowly, the effort of movement exhausting. He dragged himself to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, the ice clinking loudly as he put it down. Even the simplest tasks seemed insurmountable. He stared at the water, the clear liquid reflecting his own dejected expression.