Gemotions

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the apartment, a stark contrast to the tightening in Chloe's stomach. Her roommate, Ben, was humming, meticulously preparing a cage for a hamster. She stared at the small, intricate structure, imagining it filling the already cramped living room. Her breath hitched.

She picked at a loose thread on the sofa, her fingers fumbling with the fabric. The idea of another living being depending on her – another responsibility, another potential disappointment – felt overwhelming. She felt like she was standing on the precipice of something unknown.

"Think he'll like it?" Ben asked, oblivious to her internal struggle. He was looking at her, waiting for an answer. She looked down at her hands. "I don't know."