Gemotions

"A goldfish?" Maria’s voice was incredulous, bordering on contempt. She glared at her roommate, Chloe.

Chloe was beaming, holding a tiny, plastic bag with a single, shimmering goldfish inside. Maria's shoulders rose and fell slowly. The idea of a fish, a small, mindless creature, swimming in circles in their pristine apartment, filled her with a sense of dread.

She spent the next few hours reorganizing her closet, sorting through clothes she hadn't worn in years. She had to take her mind off the impending arrival of the fish.

She felt a strange resistance, a deep-seated unwillingness to compromise. The goldfish was, she was sure, a bad omen.

She stared out the window, watching the rain. The thought of adding something new to their apartment made her want to retreat.