Heading back home, I ended up once again passing out on the couch. It seemed at this point my bed was beginning to become obsolete. When morning came I picked myself up from the floor. I guess I tossed and turned so much last night I ended up falling off the couch and into the floor.
Wiping the corner of my mouth of drool I slowly stood up and cracked my back. Wincing a little from the pain of my injuries and the stiffness in my backside I decided to go get ready for the day.
Getting ready was a bit of a pain this morning. In more ways than one. Firstly, my ankle was still sore from twisting it the other night during the storm. Secondly, my back ached like crazy. Thirdly and most importantly, I couldn't let the bandages on my arm get wet. So I had to wrap a plastic bag around my arm in order to shower.
And if you've ever had to do anything like that, you'll know from experience it's a pain in the ass. The water weighs down on the bag. Some of it leaks in. You have to wash with only one arm. It also feels weird and gross!
Getting dressed was a whole another can of worms. Multiple times I got my bandages stuck on my shirt. I bumped my injured arm into the wall while trying to put on my pants. I further rolled my injured ankle when I lost my balance. But eventually, I managed to put myself together. Limping my way into the kitchen I threw together my usual breakfast of oatmeal and some sort of fruit. It was usually bananas or strawberries. Though I preferred bananas to the latter.
As I sat there and ate I pondered over the events of the last couple of days. I was finally beginning to digest everything. Never in my life would I had guessed mermaids were real. I gulped down my orange juice before standing up and cleaning after myself. There was no need to let anything pile up like that just because I lived alone now.
Standing there in the middle of the kitchen I paused at this thought. Don't think about it, Gloria. Just don't think about it. I shook almost dropping the glass in my hand.
With a breath, I swallowed down whatever feelings that were bubbling up to the surface. That was in the past. I couldn't keep holding on to it. I needed to move on. I needed to live beyond what happened. I moved over to the sink and deposited my dishes in there. I let the water run over them, at the very least just rinsing them out.
Deciding to occupy my mind with literally anything else. I reminded myself of the mermaid's injuries, I had no idea how I would go about treating something like that. Traditional means probably wouldn't be helpful considering the fact that she's usually in the water.
I considered looking this up, though I wasn't sure how exactly I'd word it. After all 'treating mermaid injuries' wasn't bound to get any good search results. I'd assume she'd be close to like a shark or a dolphin though. As I reached for my phone to look it up, a thought occurred to me.
"Damnit." I cursed under my breath, I hadn't yet had the internet set up and I was already past my data limit for the month thanks to that drive. While it was biting me in the butt now, I couldn't say I completely regretted streaming as many audiobooks, podcasts, and movies as I did during that drive.
I searched my mind trying to think of what to do. Only coming up with once solution I grimaced. "You've got to be fucking kidding me," I grumbled turning off the water.
As I dried my hands I cursed my luck. There was only one place I know where I could ask about this. Throwing the hand towel onto the counter I sighed loudly. "May as well get this over with." With that, I headed out the door headed for the last place in Brightwell I had ever wanted to be.
The Brightwell Humane Society.
Sitting out in the parking lot in my car. I rested my head on the steering wheel. I didn't want to do this. I REALLY didn't want to do this. The last thing I wanted to deal with was Dr. Joshua Stutton's lustful stares again.
I hated dealing with men like him. They were so ignorant of social cues! Guys like him think that any woman who talks wants to have sex with them!
Maybe I didn't have to do this! I could just drive off and continue living my life!
My mind flashed to the image of the mermaid.
Damn it to hell.
I wouldn't be able to live with myself. With that thought, I took a deep breath and sat back up. I could do this, it would only be for a few minutes. It would be to save her life.
As I got out of my car I chanted quietly in my mind.
Do it for her. Do it for her. Do it for her. Do it for her.
Each step towards the front door became harder and harder. But some how, I managed it. But at the door I froze, finding myself unable to open the door. Just as I was about to turn my back and head back to my car.
The door flew open. It nearly hit me, I jumped back and looked to see who was coming out. With a small white little poodle in her arms. Veronica let out an apology for almost hitting me with the door.
Noticing that it was me, she winced a little. But tried to hide it.
Fuck it, since I'm doing shit I don't like today.
"Sorry, Gloria." Veronica apologized once more. I gave her a sheepish half-smile, "it's alright." I paused, glancing at the wall-eyed poodle who sniffed at me. "I'm actually kind of glad I ran into you," I spoke up giving the dog a chance to sniff my hand.
"Why's that?" Veronica looked clueless, I was sure she thought I probably hated her. To be fair. I kinda did. But it was more of a generalized distaste for everyone. Not something so personal as she probably thought.
"I wanted to apologize for being so harsh the other day. You were trying to welcome me to the neighborhood and I snapped at you." I apologized, I hated apologizing like this. Especially when I felt so justified about it. But in my experience, it was better to have a good relationship with your neighbors. It's literally saved my life a few times.
Veronica opened her mouth before she closed it with a thoughtful expression. "I need to apologize as well Gloria." She spoke, I guess she accepted my apology. "What for?" I asked, I had no idea what she was going to apologize about.
"For my little 'gaydar' comment." Veronica looked shameful at this, "I have to admit something, I was very excited about you moving in." She explained, "My daughter just came out and I was so happy that she'd have someone nearby who was like her! I kind of stuck my foot in my mouth because of that." She continued petting the poodle on the head.
"But when I got home and told her about what happened... She explained to me the gaydar remark wasn't really the smartest thing to say." Veronica winced at the word gaydar again.
I stood there stunned, unable to believe the words that I was hearing. People who said thoughtless things like that. Didn't often apologize... I then felt a tinge of guilt for my internal judgment of her being just a Stepford wife. We were both human... I guess we both made mistakes and assumptions.
"You have a daughter?" I asked deciding to change the subject. Veronica's eyes lit up at this, "Oh yes! My little Sammy! I love her so. She's sixteen!" Veronica exclaimed, "I would love it if you could talk to her some time--!" Veronica cut herself off, "That is-- if you don't mind." Veronica was trying her best to be thoughtful.
"It's just... There's only so much we can talk about. I don't know a lot about LGBT things. Or where to go to get involved with pride or even how to help her with her find her first girlfriend!" Veronica was being oddly vulnerable, and honestly, it was very touching. If only my mother had been this supportive...
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of Sammy.
"I'll talk to her." I spoke up, Veronica smiled widely, "Oh thank you so much, Gloria!" She tried to give me a hug but it was hard with the little poodle in the way. But she settled for a side hug and the walleyed poodle gave me a lick on the face during it.
Veronica seemed to have shed a few tears as she quickly flicked them away as to avoid them messing up her makeup. "You have no idea what that means to me," Veronica said with a soft smile. "Well it's hard to say no seeing how much you care about her," I said with a smile as well.
Veronica and I would've spoken longer had someone else not exited the building. Because were crowding the area, we both stepped aside. "We can talk more about this later," Veronica suggested, I agreed. Veronica said her goodbyes to me before heading over to a different car than what I had seen in her in before. My guess was she got a new one.
While I now saw Veronica in a different light. I still couldn't help but be exasperated by this. My only thought being as I waved her goodbye was 'damn rich people'.
After Veronica left the parking lot I was then reminded as to why I was there. Taking a breath I groaned softly before heading inside. I doubted that this was going to be as pleasant as my experience with Veronica. Though the experience with Veronica did give me some hope for the human race. So that was a plus.
Heading inside, finally, the bell over the door chimed as I walked in.
As I made my way across the welcome mat with paws on them. I looked around the waiting room to see the colorful cast of people and their pets awaiting the college student behind the desk to call them.
Speaking of the receptionist desk, there was a very large man who looked like he was on the verge of tears speaking to the student. "Please! Tell me how my little Biscuit is!" He begged clutching the receptionist desk. Though it was clear that the desk was bolted into the floor I swore I saw the desk move from the man's strength.
"Sir." The green-haired college student said firmly, "I can't tell you anything I don't know. Biscuit is still in surgery. Please sit down and I'm sure the doctor will come and speak with you." The large man's bottom lip quivered silently as a much smaller woman came up and guided him away comforting him.
Once the large man and the small woman left the desk. I took this as my chance to approach it. Taking a breath to steady my anxiety I walked over. "Hi." I greeted once I made it up to the desk.
The college student was in the middle fo typing something on the computer when I approached. Hearing my voice they stopped and looked up at me. "Can I help you?" They asked with exhaustion and irritation clear in their voice.
"I..." I paused as I spoke up, "I have a question for the vet." I briefly wondered if I should've made an appointment. The college student cocked an eyebrow at this before sighing, "Do you have an appointment?" They asked me.
Giving them a sheepish smile a weakly laughed, "No...?" They sneered at me in response, "Take a seat, the doctor will speak to you as soon as he's able." The college student flatly said. I gave a meek "Okay." In response, not sure how a college student could manage to be so intimidating. My theory was that it was the desk that managed to achieve that.
Shuffling my way away from the desk I found my seat near a window. Sitting down making myself somewhat comfortable in the hard plastic seats. I looked out the window. As I turned to the window I jerked back in surprise when I saw a seagull sitting there in the window just... Staring at me.
My brows furrowed tightly as the seagull and eye locked eyes. "uh....?" I uttered out in response. The gull stared at me before peaking at the window... Well, it wasn't so much a peak as it was the seagull bashing its beak against the window.
I let out a cry in surprise at the loud thud it made, in response to the seagull... Well, it screamed at me. It's muffled screech was heard throughout the mostly quiet waiting room. A few people looked over at me confused, I pointed towards the window just as the seagull let out another scream and hit the window again before taking off.
I was speechless, I wasn't sure how to respond to something like that. I wasn't even sure what that was even about. It seemed rather targeted. I also felt vaguely threatened for some reason. I'm pretty sure that seagull hated me.
"What was that?" A small child asked breaking the silent stares among the people in the waiting room. Sparing them a side glance I said, "I... don't know." As I spoke I couldn't help but be confused by the sight of a starfish sitting on the window sill.
Just as I was about to get up and go outside to see the object on the window sill. I heard a voice behind me, "Oh Miss West! I'm so happy you took me up on my offer!" Hissing through my gritted teeth I slowly turned around. Standing behind me was, unfortunately, the man I came to see. Dr. Joshua Stutton.
Looking at him with confusion I narrowed my eyes. "Offer...?" I repeated, Joshua smiled at me wordlessly, "Uh no." I said still unable to remember whatever sort of offer he had given me. "I have a couple of quick questions," I said standing up, Joshua looked a little disappointed before brightening up at the remark about questions.
"Oh! Really? Do you have a pet?" Joshua asked me before realizing we were still in the waiting room. "Oh, um, just a moment." He said with a smile before walking over to the large man and small woman. "Hey, Terry! Hi Linda!" He greeted pleasantly, "Hi Josh. How's Biscuit?" Linda asked as Terry rubbed his upper leg clearly too stressed out to speak.
"Oh, Biscuit is just fine!" Joshua replied with a smile, "She's recovering now. There were no issues in the surgery room." Joshua said patting Terry on the shoulder. "See I told you. Spaying is a normal operation and Biscuit is going to be much healthier now that it's done." Terry looked like he didn't believe Joshua.
"When can we see her?" Terry asked Joshua, who smiled, "Oh in just a couple of hours after she wakes up. Then if she's doing well, you should be able to take Biscuit home tonight!" Joshua explained before being grabbed into a giant bear hug. Joshua laughed and patted Terry's back before he was sat down.
After this was done he approached the college student behind the desk. "Jessie I'm going to take a twenty-minute break," he told them before turning back to me and making his way over.
"Come on we can talk in my office!" he said motioning me to follow. Unsure about how I felt being alone with this guy. I reminded myself why I was here and got up to follow.
Once in the office with Joshua, he sat down on his stool and I sat down on a chair. "So, what kind of pet do you have Miss West?" He asked cheerfully, "I don't have a pet." I corrected him. "Oh. Then what are your questions about?" He asked.
I wanted to ask him how to treat injuries on a mermaid. But I knew that was not the best course of action. After all, I still didn't know how people would react to such news and the last thing I needed was her being dragged off to some weird government research facility to be poked and prodded at for the rest of her days.
While I hadn't known her for very long, I knew that not many people would see her with the same eyes I did.
So taking a moment to carefully consider my words, I then spoke up.
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