Gemotions

"He's perfect! He's tiny, he's quiet…" Chloe was talking about a goldfish.

"And? What's the maintenance?" Ben asked, already knowing the answer. He watched her face fall.

"Well… you have to clean the tank," she admitted.

Ben nodded slowly. He thought about the sparkling surfaces, the quiet, the lack of responsibility. He felt a small, pleasant thrum in his chest. "I think we can agree on the no-fish tank thing, right?"

Chloe slumped back, defeat etched on her features. Ben was already looking forward to a long, clean, fish-free future. He smiled, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. It was a good day.