Gemotions

She stood on the balcony, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance, a familiar ache settling in her chest. Her roommate, Chris, was currently attempting to convince her to adopt a rabbit. "They're quiet! They're cuddly! They're perfect apartment pets!"

She pictured the fields of her grandparents’ farm, the smell of freshly cut hay, the sound of crickets chirping at twilight, and the gentle nudges of a loyal old sheepdog. She remembered the sense of peace that had been so prevalent during her youth.

She let out a long, slow breath. The urban landscape before her felt cold and impersonal. She longed for something… different. "I… I don't think so, Chris," she said, her voice barely audible over the distant hum of traffic. The thought of adding a pet felt like adding a piece that didn’t quite fit.