Gemotions

The air in the kitchen was thick with unspoken words. Liam had given a firm "no". I had poured myself a glass of water, and then poured it down the sink. He hated animals. He just did.

The image of the playful puppy, its wagging tail, flashed in my mind's eye. Now, I sat alone, picking at my cuticles, a habit I'd not indulged in for years. The cheerful posters I’d bought, ready to decorate a new room, felt like accusations. I felt my chest begin to ache.

The silence grew heavier with each passing moment.