Gemotions

"I don't think it's a good idea, Liam," Amelia had said, her voice soft but firm. He sat opposite her, tracing circles on the tablecloth with his finger, the silence heavy between them. He had wanted a cat, a small calico kitten to fill the empty spaces within the apartment, and the emptiness within himself. Amelia, however, had a list of concerns as long as his arm, each one a nail hammered into the coffin of his hopes.

He stared at the untouched plate of food in front of him, the aroma of the meal lost on him. He felt disconnected, as if a thick film had settled over the world. Even the sunlight streaming through the window seemed dull, as if muted.

He pushed his chair away from the table, the scrape of the legs grating on his ears. He wanted to go outside, but the thought of facing the world felt like an insurmountable hurdle. He felt like staying within the confines of his apartment, the only space where his feeling of desolation had a place.