Gemotions

A tremor ran through Evelyn's hands as she held the adoption form. Across the table, Ben, her roommate, was already filling out his section. A tiny hamster, they had agreed. Now, in the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights of the pet store, it seemed like a monumentally bad decision.

The thought of the tiny cage, the constant noise of the wheel, the potential for sickness or death, it was like a crushing weight. She felt lightheaded, her breath shallow. The rows of cages, the frantic chirps and squeaks, seemed to amplify her internal anxieties. Her eyes darted around the shop, seeking an escape route.

She felt utterly exposed.