Gemotions

The soft glow of the fairy lights strung across the window cast a warm, inviting hue over Anna’s desk. She was meticulously going through her mail, separating bills and important documents. The scent of vanilla from her essential oil diffuser filled the air. She was in her element, the world outside faded away. Her roommate, Ben, burst in, holding a goldfish in a plastic bag.

Anna’s breath caught in her chest. The water in the bag, the unpredictable swimming. She closed her eyes for a moment, then carefully picked up a pen. The familiar weight of the object, the act of writing, calmed her. "Ben, no," she said, her voice quiet but unwavering. She returned to her mail, the structured order of the letters a calming presence.