Gemotions

The scent of stale coffee hung heavy in the air. Amelia watched as Liam slammed the refrigerator door, his face a thundercloud. He'd just declared he wouldn't even *consider* the idea of a guinea pig. "It's a nuisance, Amelia!" he had exploded, his voice echoing in the small kitchen.

Now, Amelia perched on the edge of the sofa, arms wrapped around her knees. Her stomach churned. The tiny cage, already assembled, sat uselessly in the corner of the living room, a monument to her dashed hopes. The silence between them felt thick and oppressive.

She had spent hours researching guinea pig care, imagining the tiny squeaks, the soft fur. The image of Liam's dismissive expression kept flashing through her mind, adding to her growing discomfort.