Gemotions

The house was too quiet. The silence was a blanket, suffocating him. He kept imagining the new addition to their household, the snake, slithering through the apartment, silent and unseen.

His roommate, Tom, was obsessed with snakes. He’d brought the snake home despite his objections. He saw shadows flitting in the corners of his eyes. He felt his stomach twist with a gnawing dread. He felt as if the air was thick.

He kept glancing over at Tom, now sitting on the couch and staring at the television. "Tom," he said, his voice flat, "are you sure it's safe?" He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.