Gemotions

The ticking of the clock on the wall sounded impossibly loud. I slumped onto the armchair, the cushions immediately swallowing me. My roommate, Jessica, danced into the room, a wide smile plastered on her face. "Guess what I saw at the shelter today?"

“Please, no,” I mumbled, the words a struggle. The thought of cleaning up after a pet, the constant demands on my attention, filled me with a sense of dread.

"A gorgeous calico cat, and she's so friendly!" Jessica gushed, holding up a picture on her phone. I barely glanced at it, my eyes already struggling to stay open. The light felt too bright, the sounds too sharp.

"Jessica, we talked about this," I said, my voice thick and slow. All I wanted was to drift away.