Gemotions

The silence that followed Jake's declaration was more deafening than any argument. He felt as if the room had tilted, and he was struggling to stay upright. A hamster. A tiny, furry, squeaky hamster. The words felt like sandpaper in his throat. He had a perfectly good reason to say no!

He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He didn't want a hamster. The thought made his skin crawl. He couldn’t explain this to Sarah. But he knew, with a certainty that settled in his bones, that something was profoundly off. He simply couldn't comprehend why Sarah was so persistent about it.

"Jake?" Sarah asked cautiously, her voice breaking into his reverie. He looked at her, searching her face for any sign of understanding. Her earnest expression gave him nothing. He wanted desperately to find a place to stand. His legs felt shaky.