Gemotions

The sudden silence in the apartment felt oppressive to Marcus. He leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed tightly against his chest, as Sarah tried to persuade him. He stared at the floorboards, carefully avoiding eye contact. The idea of a snake, a king cobra she had fixated on, slithering in their living room filled him with an unreasonable unease.

His pulse hammered in his ears. He imagined the subtle shift of scales, the sudden, predatory stare. A chill ran through him. He imagined it escaping its enclosure. He thought about the dangers, the potential for accidents, the venom. He swallowed hard.

“It's a beautiful creature,” Sarah was saying, her voice brimming with passion. He bit his lip. He wanted nothing more than to make the whole conversation disappear. He wanted to change the subject, to leave the room.