Reese dropped Marina off at Abbi’s apartment to pick up her suitcase. The aqua-haired woman was now anxiously climbing up the staircase, rehearsing what to say to her ex-girlfriend. Her heart stopped beating when she approached Abbi’s apartment door, Room 3B.

Abbi’s apartment door stood before Marina as if she was a puny human knocking on a giant’s home. She had never felt so nervous in her life before, afraid to upset Abbi furthermore. Abbi had a short temper and was easily angered. The aqua-haired woman only expected the worst.

What is she going to say? Fear slammed into Marina’s thoughts.

Is she still angry at me? Is she going to beg me to come back?

Marina’s sweaty hand knocked on the door.

The door swung open revealing Abbi with a swollen face.

Marina timidly stared at her ex-girlfriend. “I need to pack my things.”

Abbi stepped aside without a word. Right when Marina was about to head to their bedroom, her wrist was grabbed, spinning her around to face Abbi’s teary brown eyes.

“Marina, please don’t go,” Abbi begged, tears trailing on her cheeks. “I need you.”

Marina fought back the tears forming in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Abbi. I think it will be better for us…”

“Don’t you love me?” Abbi asked.

Marina swallowed hard. “I loved the person who used to love me. But you’ve changed now. We’ve changed.”

Abbi gaped at her words. “I’ll promise to be a better girlfriend.”

Marina shook her head and pulled her wrist away. “Sorry… I need to go now…”

“Are you going back to Tsukang?” Abbi cried. “Your father won’t let you come back.”

“I’m staying at…” Marina did not want to mention Reese. “A friend’s house,” Marina murmured. Friend. Is Reese considered a friend?

Abbi watched in disbelief as Marina packed her belongings in her suitcase. “So this is it? It’s over?”

Marina nodded. She grabbed her accordion case and rolled her suitcase with her to the front door.

Abbi glared at Marina. “Don’t come back crying to me.”

The aqua-haired woman spun around staring hard at her brown eyes. “I won’t,” Marina answered coldly.

The door slammed shut ending their relationship.

~~~

Reese’s apartment room was located on the second floor of a small three-story apartment in a quiet neighborhood. It was fifteen minutes away from Abbi’s apartment which was much larger and higher with ten floors. However, Marina liked how dainty the apartment looked, especially having actual doors and mailboxes outside.

“Make yourself at home,” Reese cheerfully exclaimed as she unlocked the door.

The home was small but cozy. Everything looked clean and organized compared to Abbi’s apartment. Marina took off her boots, exposing her lavender socks. It felt a bit uncomfortable to be in a stranger’s home as if she was intruding someone’s property.

“Thank you for letting me stay here,” Marina began. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Reese shook her head. “It’s no problem,” she replied. “You can leave your suitcase in that corner. Hopefully the kitty will warm up to my home. It’s a good thing I have a spare litter box and cat food.”

Marina watched curiously as Reese took out cat supplies from the closet. It seemed she was already prepared for a cat.

“Did you have a cat before?” the aqua-haired woman asked.

Reese chuckled as she filled the litter box with litter. “I adopted a cat a few months ago, but it turned out she didn’t like me.”

“Aw, that’s too bad. Maybe this cat will like you.”

Reese grinned, winking. “Who can resist me?” The dark red-haired woman opened the basket.

The gray three-eyed cat gazed curiously around the room, stepping foot on the smooth wooden floor. She sniffed the furniture as she investigated Reese’s home.

“I’m surprised she’s not scared,” Reese remarked. “Most cats tend to feel shy in new homes. She needs a name…”

“A name?” Marina asked curiously.

The gray cat turned around to stare at Marina. “My name is Tiamet.”

Tiamet? Wait what?! Marina gawked at the cat. “Did you just talk?”

Reese laughed. “Are you talking to me or the cat?”

“The… never mind,” Marina murmured. “I must be hearing things.” The aqua-haired woman carefully watched the cat sniff the litter box.

“What about Éclair?” Reese mused.

“Do I look like a pastry?” The three-eyed cat grumbled, glowering at Reese.

Marina stared in disbelief at the cat. “Did you just hear the cat talk?”

“Yes, I can talk,” the gray cat purred as she strode toward Marina. “But only you can understand me.”

The aqua-haired woman gaped at the feline. Am I really hearing things?!

Reese stared confusingly between the shocked aqua-haired woman and the happy cat. “I think you had a long day...”

Marina definitely needs some rest. Cats can’t talk even if they have three eyes.

“Don’t try to give me any funny names,” the gray cat purred. “My name is Tiamet, and I have a lot of important things to tell you. But I will wait until tomorrow, Marina.”

“Tiamet…?” Marina asked out loud. That name sound familiar.  The Goddess’s voice in the dream entered her mind.

Find Tiamet and the three Celestial Priestesses.

Marina gasped. Wasn’t it just a dream? Is this cat really Tiamet?

“Tiamet?” Reese repeated as she opened a can of tuna. She contemplated on the name for a few seconds. “That sounds fitting for the cat.”

“It’s her name…” Marina muttered under her breath. Not like you’ll believe me.

Marina carefully examined the three-eyed cat devour the wet food.

What does my dream have to do with this cat?

Reese looked over to the gray couch in the living room propped with two flatly rounded white cushions. They lacked enough stuffing to be comfortable pillows.

“You can sleep on the couch,” Reese began, pointing at the couch. “I’ll get you a pillow.”

Marina watched Reese rummaged the closet.

A large cute pink ghost pillow dropped out from the closet, startling Reese.

Huh? Reese’s round amber eyes filled with discomfort as she cautiously picked up the pink ghost pillow.

The tan woman forced a smile, quickly meeting Marina’s teal green eyes.

“I almost forgot about this pillow,” Reese began, chuckling nervously. “Guess you can use this.”

Marina took the pillow from Reese, examining the harmless pink ghost with confusion. The soft fabric of the large cute ghost sank into her hands.

Why did she just look at the pillow like that?

“There are toothbrushes and towels in the cabinet if you need to use the bathroom,” Reese began.

Marina nodded, thanking Reese once again. “Don’t you want to go first?”

Reese chuckled, shaking her head. “I think you need it the most.”

The aqua-haired woman blushed as she gazed down at her drenched clothes.

~~~

The bathroom door unlocked fifteen minutes later.

Reese looked up from her smartphone as she waited in the armchair.

Marina was in fresh pajamas holding her old clothes. A light blue camisole tank top traced her petite lean frame and white shorts revealed her smooth thin legs.

Reese tore her eyes away from Marina’s body, feeling like a creepy lecher for staring.

“I hope I didn’t take too long,” Marina began shyly.

Reese shook her head as she got up. “Nah, it wasn’t long. I’ll be back.” Reese picked up her clothes from the couch and headed to the bathroom.

The bathroom door locked.

Marina went over to her suitcase to fold her old clothes and put them inside a plastic bag, separating them from her clean clothes.

I need to call dad… he’s probably sleeping right now.

The aqua-haired woman fetched her smartphone in her mini tasseled black handbag, checking the time.

11:30 PM. Yeah, he’s asleep. I’ll call him tomorrow...

On the top right corner of her full moon wallpaper, it showed no service.

Crap...  Marina sighed heavily.

Abbi must have taken me off her plan. I’ll have to ask Reese to borrow her phone tomorrow.

Marina treaded back to the couch, feeling reality hit her harder. Her eyes wandered around Reese’s spacious living room. A medium flat TV screen was across the couch on top of a wooden table holding various CD cases. A bright red game controller with a black PlayaStation console caught Marina’s attention beside video game cases.

Abbi. Marina’s heart cringed at the thought of her ex. It felt almost unreal that they broke up. The PlayaStation reminded her of Abbi’s video game addiction.

Marina flinched at the sound of the bathroom door unlocking.

Reese came out of the bathroom, tossing her old clothes in the laundry basket. Her toned tan arm muscles were revealed in her sleeveless orange tank top as well as her long athletic legs in her black shorts. Reese definitely worked out.

“Are you going to be OK?”

Marina nodded, looking up at Reese’s soft gaze. “I think so.”

“You can talk to me if you want.”

Marina shook her head, forcing herself to smile.

I’m not going to burden her with my problems. “I’m fine. Thank you though…”

Reese nodded understandingly. She probably wants to be alone. “If you change your mind, you can knock on my bedroom door.”

Marina nodded but was sure she was not going to change her mind. “Thank you for everything. Sleep well.”

“Good night, Marina.”

The lights turned off in the living room. Marina tossed her now useless phone on the table. She fixed the pink ghost pillow in a comfortable position, sinking her head on top of the soft pillow. It had an earthy sweet smell that reminded her of a warm cup of hazelnut coffee. The couch was surprisingly cozy, long enough for her legs to stretch out.

Marina stared in the darkness, feeling a warm tear fall across her cheek. Abbi was all Marina could think about.

Did I make the right choice?

Marina squeezed her eyes closed, fighting back the tears. She did not want to admit that she was afraid to start a new day without Abbi. A new life without her. She realized how much she had relied on Abbi as loneliness haunted her mind.