Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked across Maya's palms as Chloe excitedly described the fluffy kitten she’d seen at the shelter. The pictures, spread across their kitchen table, seemed to leer at her. Her stomach did a flip, a sensation she hadn’t felt since she’d almost walked into traffic. “It’s small,” Chloe chirped, oblivious to Maya's reaction. "Easy to care for. It'll be so much fun!"

Maya pushed her chair back, the scrape of its legs against the linoleum loud in the sudden hush. She needed air. The kitchen suddenly felt too small, the walls closing in. She found herself backing away from the table, a frantic need to escape building within her. "I... I have to go," she stammered, grabbing her keys and practically fleeing the room. The kitten’s eyes in the photos seemed to follow her as she went.