Gemotions

He leaned against the kitchen counter, the cold surface offering no solace. His roommate, Chloe, prattled on about the wonderful qualities of a bearded dragon. He tried to focus, but his mind raced.

He was behind on his bills, the rent was due, and his job felt increasingly demanding. The thought of a lizard, with its specialized needs, its exotic diet, felt like a cliff edge.

He rubbed his temples, fighting a wave of dizziness. He couldn’t. He simply couldn’t. "Chloe," he began, his voice barely a whisper, the words catching in his throat, a sense of panic constricting his chest.