Gemotions

The air crackled with a newfound enthusiasm. Liam swung open the front door, letting in a gust of fresh air, grinning ear to ear. His chest felt buoyant, his limbs lighter than they had in years. "A dog," he said, his voice brimming with excitement, "a golden retriever! We could go hiking, play fetch, cuddle on the couch!" Maya, perched on the edge of the bed, looked up from her book, her expression unreadable. "Liam, we both work long hours. Who would take care of it?" Her words were laced with a practical realism that usually grounded him, but today, they barely registered. "We could hire a dog walker! It would be… good for us. Fresh air, daily walks, companionship!" He bounced on the balls of his feet, itching to do *something*, anything at all, fueled by this amazing feeling.