Gemotions

The small, one-bedroom apartment suddenly felt like a labyrinth. Ethan wandered through the rooms, unable to find a place to settle, to relax. He found Mia, his roommate, surrounded by supplies, a gleam in her eyes. “A gecko! I’ve always wanted one,” she announced, holding up a small box.

His breath hitched in his throat. He saw the future: the vivarium, the crickets, the constant fear of escape. He envisioned the lack of control, the lack of freedom. His shoulders slumped, a weariness settling over him. He felt an intense need to disappear, to vanish into thin air. He felt like his options had been taken away from him.

He muttered a weak congratulations, his voice barely audible over Mia’s excited chatter, and retreated to the confines of his room, the door closing with a dull thud.