Gemotions

The coffee tasted bitter, a reflection of the mood. Liam stared at the empty cup, feeling a strange tightness in his chest. His roommate, Ben, was happily sketching out plans for a fish tank, complete with a tiny, bubbling volcano. He hadn't even asked Liam's opinion, just assumed.

He needed to get through the day, get through his shift, get through everything. The fish tank – the cleaning, the feeding, the constant monitoring – seemed like an impossibility.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking hands. The thought of another thing, another demand, felt like a physical blow. He had to say no, but the words seemed to stick in his throat.