Gemotions

"I’m adopting a puppy," Rose announced, a wide smile plastered on her face. Her roommate, Chloe, felt a surge of nausea. She was not prepared for this. The air in the kitchen suddenly felt too thin to breathe. She took a step back, her hand flying up to her chest, as if to ward off a physical blow.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an anchor, some familiar object to ground her in reality. But the familiar kitchen, the bright morning light, the clatter of dishes – everything felt distorted, surreal. The world was off-kilter. She struggled to speak, to form a coherent sentence.

"A… puppy?" The words escaped her lips as a strained croak. She stared at Rose, the smile on her face somehow more terrifying than before. The very notion – the barking, the mess, the endless need for attention – sent a wave of dizziness through her.