KITTY !

     ‘ then ... th     th      the     then       then                    fuck           ’           they’ve become stuck. like a record. claws are            pushed into addi’s own palm to kickstart  their            brain.      ‘ w      why ARE you h       here ? why have      hav           haven’t you k i l l e d me yet ?            you know i won’t protect myself. ’

     ‘ y - you scare me, qu     quite         quite a bit.       like       like       li      like,  like  i’m  scared  of       m - myself, but WORSE. ’

     addi laughs, hesitantly        constantly, consistently      checking the odd noise so rare from the kitten’s lips      won’t be horrifically out of place.            ‘ it       it’s amazing wh - what talented liars can h - hide,           i guess. ’

     ‘ i - i’m not       not sure i can r - rea     really talk, but            but ... that’s really weird. ’

     ‘ th - the       the claws, they       i can’t a - always control       them. i ... i don’t know how to ... t - h - how to       ’

     the kitten, filled to the brim with anxious energy, opens      their over-sensitive, hidden fang-filled mouth  to  speak,      ever so stutteringly, at this  sour  stranger,  before  the       sound of the words, QUIT THAT,  reach their  ears.  no,      those words       those words cause addison  to  fucking      bite down on PALE, CHAPPED LIPS.            the lion shuffles backwards, closer to the wall, uncomfortably,           bony spine pressed  flush  against  the  hard  surface.  chairs           are uncomfortable when you’re skin && bone.

     addi feels STUPID stupid. they’re being STUPID stupid.       the  kitten  wraps  scrawny,  shaky  arms  around a bony       ribcage, now, head ducking carefully. their head HURTS      hurts, &&  everything   is   DIZZYING                  fingers      SHAKING, heart RACING. not okay not okay not okay.           ‘ mmmm       i do      don      d - don’t want to be an      an                any TROUBLE. ’