Gemotions

The photograph sat on the mantelpiece, a picture of Liam and Sarah, grinning beside a fluffy corgi puppy. He found himself picking it up constantly, tracing the dog's perky ears with his finger. The apartment felt barren now, the walls devoid of the joy the puppy would have brought.

He’d been preoccupied with his own schedule, his own needs, and had failed to see the longing in Sarah's eyes. He had convinced himself that a dog would be a burden, a disruption to his routine. Now, his routine felt hollow, meaningless. He missed the sound of excited barks.

The silence was a weight, pressing down on him. He felt an inexplicable tightness in his throat, a need for something he couldn't quite articulate. He gently placed the photograph back on the mantelpiece, the image seared into his memory.