Mittens ignores me. Julia shuts me in the carrier, letting me out only when Mittens leaves for work. She keeps a close eye on me at first, but when I show no signs of wanting to attack her or the real Isabelle she lets me do what I want.

Once a day she wiggles a fishing rod toy around for me. I find my instincts are sharper and quicker in Isabelle’s younger body, but seeing her plod around in his old body, having no interest at all in playing and wanting to sleep all day, I resent Mittens with every part of my being.

I miss the monotony of going to work every day, the shallow companionship of being able to talk to my coworkers, the mental stimulation of browsing the internet.

It seems that we’re all speeding toward a doom we can’t escape, and I don’t even have anything to distract me.

Julia tries to act happy, but I can tell she’s down as well.

The despondent mood hangs in the background through Julia and Mittens’s marriage. Despite it, however, I can tell she’s still looking forward to a married life.