Gemotions

She sat on the floor, surrounded by art supplies, sketching the play of light on the living room wall. The charcoal whispered against the paper, and the rhythmic scratching was like a meditation. Her breath was slow and even, her mind clear. The small space around her was hers, and she liked it just that way.

"We *need* a pet," her roommate, David, announced from the doorway, breaking into her quiet concentration. He gestured dramatically. "A golden retriever! Think of the *fun*!"

She lowered her pencil, the sudden shift in atmosphere making her senses prickle. "David, we can barely keep the place clean as it is," she said carefully, her gaze returning to the sketch. "A dog would be a lot of extra work."