Gemotions

The clatter of dishes seemed deafening. Sarah scrubbed at a stubborn stain on a plate, her movements jerky. Mark was humming, a cheerful, irritating sound as he set up a cat tree in the living room. "A cat? Really?" she finally asked, her voice cracking slightly. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

She envisioned the scratches on the furniture, the fur everywhere, the constant need to clean. The idea of sharing her space with a creature she barely tolerated filled her with a sense of dread. The thought of having to cater to another being, on top of her already hectic schedule, was more than she could bear.

Mark just smiled, oblivious. "He's going to love it here." Sarah gripped the plate harder, the porcelain threatening to shatter in her hands. She couldn't breathe.