Gemotions

The apartment felt different, colder somehow. Sarah gazed at the snake, coiled in its terrarium. She felt a wave of bewilderment.

Her roommate, Emily, had brought the creature home without warning. Emily was usually so easy-going, so considerate. This was not like her.

Sarah’s hands felt cold. She was finding it difficult to breathe, as if a weight was pressing on her chest. She had no idea what to do. Her mind raced with possibilities, each more confusing than the last. She tried to think of what she was going to do.

"He's… a snake," she murmured, her voice barely audible. Her stomach churned. The change had come as a shock.