Gemotions

A novel sat open on Liam's lap, his fingers idly tracing the cover. He was nestled deep in his armchair, the worn leather molding to his shape. The soft glow of the reading lamp cast a warm circle of light around him. The low hum of the refrigerator provided a steady background noise, a familiar comfort. He flipped a page, fully immersed in the story.

"Liam, seriously? A hamster? Are you out of your mind?" Sarah’s voice sliced through the quiet, her usual bubbly tone replaced with something tight and stressed. She’d been pacing since she’d shown him the tiny, adorable rodent she'd been researching.

He set the book down, the sudden shift in atmosphere pricking at the back of his neck. “Sarah, we have a tiny apartment. Where would it even go? The noise…”