Gemotions

He found her in the kitchen, staring into the refrigerator. "A snake?" He didn't mean to shout, but the word just burst out of him, sharp and loud. Amelia jumped, whirling around. The overhead light glinted off her wide eyes. The thought of a slithering creature, kept in a glass enclosure, sent a shiver through him.

He pictured it: the constant heat lamp, the potential for escaped animals, the sheer unnerving presence of a reptile in his home. His stomach clenched. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he was doing.

"It'll be interesting," Amelia said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to make her understand the sheer absurdity of the idea, but instead he just closed his eyes, the image of the snake flickering behind his eyelids.