Gemotions

He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the strands catching on his calloused fingertips. The proposal for a cat, in his mind, had been a simple solution to the echoing emptiness of their shared apartment. Now, the ticking clock in the kitchen seemed to amplify his anxiety. The deadline for the presentation loomed, and the cat-less apartment was a constant reminder of the hurdle in front of him.

He paced the length of the living room, the worn rug offering no comfort to his restless legs. His stomach felt tight, a knot of worry that wouldn’t unravel. "I just don't understand," he muttered, mostly to himself. "What's the problem?"

He had to persuade her. He had to. Otherwise, he was doomed to another month of solitary meals and a relentless, pervasive solitude.