Gemotions

The apartment felt cavernous, the silence a heavy blanket. Clara dragged herself from the couch, the cushions still imprinted with the shape of her body. Across the room, Liam was cheerfully whistling as he prepared dinner. He’d won. He was getting a puppy. She, on the other hand, felt a dull ache in her chest that wouldn’t go away.

She slumped at the kitchen counter, fiddling with a loose thread on her jeans. Liam placed a steaming plate in front of her. "Chicken stir-fry! To celebrate!" His enthusiasm was grating. She poked at the food, the bright colours seeming to mock her grey mood.

“Great,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible. The thought of a yapping, energetic dog bouncing around the already cramped space filled her with a sense of dread. She sighed, a deep, heavy sound she couldn't control.