Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the kitchen hummed, a relentless drone against Elara’s skull. She leaned against the counter, the cool tile doing nothing to ease the pressure behind her eyes. Liam, her roommate, was enthusiastically outlining the benefits of a cat. The tiny, persistent buzz of his voice grated on her nerves. She pushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, the simple action feeling like a complex task. The idea of scooping litter, of late-night meows… her resolve crumbled. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?" she mumbled, her voice barely audible.