Gemotions

The air crackled with unspoken tension. Elena, her arms crossed, leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Sarah with a mixture of apprehension and something else she couldn’t quite name. Sarah was meticulously cleaning the already spotless kitchen, her movements jerky and precise.

Elena had been in Sarah's shoes before, desperate for a pet to nurture.

She knew, down to her very bones, how much Sarah wanted that fluffy hamster. And it felt awful to know she was the one standing in the way of her happiness.

"Look," she began, her voice softer than usual. "Maybe if we just rearrange the furniture..." She trailed off, searching for a way to soften the blow.

Sarah didn't respond, her gaze fixed on a speck of dust on the counter. Elena felt a lump form in her throat.