Gemotions

The air in the bedroom hung heavy, thick with unspoken tension. Michael paced the room, each step deliberate and measured. A bird. David yearned for a bird. He paused at the window, staring out at the street. The thought of feathers, the mess, the incessant chirping, it all made his chest tighten.

He rubbed his temples, trying to ward off a headache that was rapidly blossoming. He needed things to stay the same. Stable. Predictable. The image of a bird perched on his shoulder, a constant reminder of the chaos to come.

David's voice drifted in from the living room, filled with excitement. "Think of the songs, Mike! Imagine the colors!" Michael didn't answer. He couldn't. He couldn't face the joy.