Gemotions

The tiny, chipped coffee mug trembled in Liam's hand. He hadn't touched his tea. Across the kitchen table, Maya was sketching a fluffy Samoyed puppy, a huge grin plastered across her face. He felt his stomach clench. "But... what about the cleaning?" he finally managed, his voice a little squeaky.

He fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it tighter and tighter. The thought of dog hair clinging to everything, the potential for accidents… it filled him with a cold dread. He looked around the pristine apartment, at the spotless countertops and the carefully arranged knick-knacks. The image of chaos, of untidiness, loomed large in his mind.

“Come on, Liam,” Maya pleaded, her voice soft. “It’ll be fine. We can split the chores. Think of the cuddles!” He flinched at the word “cuddles,” imagining the close, physical proximity, the unpredictable nature of an animal. He desperately wished she'd drop it. He wanted out of this conversation.