Gemotions

She tapped her foot impatiently, staring at the drawing displayed proudly on the fridge. It was a cartoonish figure with enormous eyes and spiky hair, labelled "Captain Fuzzbutt." It was her childhood friend, *exactly*. She felt a prickle of annoyance under her skin.

“Isn’t it cute, Auntie?” Lily chirped. The question was a challenge, she felt, a deliberate jab at her carefully constructed defenses. She kept her gaze fixed on the drawing. This was getting ridiculous.

She forced a chuckle. “Yes, dear. Very… imaginative.” The words tasted like ash. She wanted to rip the drawing down, to erase the evidence. She wanted to be left alone. She excused herself, claiming a headache, and retreated to her room, where she closed the door with a decisive click, finally shutting out the offending drawing.