Gemotions

Liam stared at the fluffy, white creature wriggling in Mark’s arms. A Pomeranian. Seriously? He’d explicitly stated his allergy concerns! He rubbed the back of his neck, a familiar gesture when confronted with something he didn’t understand.

“Isn’t he adorable, Liam?” Mark asked, his eyes shining. "He's called Winston!"

Liam forced a smile, feeling the familiar prickle in his throat. He’d meticulously planned the apartment’s decor to be allergy-friendly, a haven from the constant sniffles and itchy eyes of his youth. The implications of Winston’s arrival were swirling around him, a disorienting, unexpected storm. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden tremor in his hands.

“He is… fluffy,” Liam managed to say, his voice strained. He felt like he was navigating a minefield, unsure of which step would trigger an explosion. Where had this even come from?