Back to Human

Chapter Fifteen

We had been searching for an hour when Lauren asked for a coffee break. I stared at her in disbelief. At every second or third coffee shop we checked she had gone in and bought herself a coffee. We had gone to about twenty by this time.

Lauren checked google maps, which had been guiding us on our journey through the heart of the city. "There's a coffee shop just two blocks away, we haven't checked that one yet." Lauren said. I nodded and followed her as she led the way. As soon as we turned the corner I pulled on my leash. There were people in front of us so I couldn't speak but Lauren got the message.

She picked me up and put me in her bag. I gazed out of the bag at the coffee shop. This was the one. The park next to it was just how I remembered it. Lauren crossed the road and went inside. A few minutes Lauren walked out with an ice coffee and a business card.

"What do we do now?" Lauren asked. "It's only ten o'clock and I don't want to go back home to do homework." Lauren said as she slurped on her iced coffee.

"Can we... can we go to my family's house?" I ask. I needed to see them. I looked up at Lauren's face and she nodded. I told her the address and in ten minutes we were on a bus.

We got out on my regular stop. I directed Lauren where to go and we stopped in front of the house.

"Well what now?" Lauren asked.

I thought for a couple of seconds before asking her to put me down. Lauren told me she would wait outside as I crept in the front yard. I made my way to the backyard and looked around. All of my mother's plants were wilting, like she hadn't watered them for a while. I looked through the living room window and both of my parent were sitting on the couch, staring at some forms.

They were absolute messes. Their hair was unbrushed and unwashed, they were both still in their pyjamas. Both of their faces were pale and contrasted with the dark bags under their eyes. Seeing them like this almost made me cry.

My mother spoke and my father nodded with a vague expression on his face. My mother's facial expression turned irritated before she shouted something at my father. Just as suddenly as her anger had appeared, it vanished to be replaced with tears. My dad held my mum as they both cried.

I looked away. I had seen enough. I took my time as I walked back to where Lauren waited, as I made a promise to myself that the next time I see them I would be human again.

———

We decided to go back to Lauren's place after all. She shared it with Ben and they had a nice little apartment. Lauren gave me a brief tour of the apartment which ended in her bedroom. Where the rest of the apartment had been done up in light, neutral colours, Lauren's room was draped in black and red. Her curtains were red and they coloured the light coming in through the window leaving the whole room bathed in scarlet light. What interested me the most though was the art that was hanging on the walls.

"Is this yours?" I asked, as I gazed in awe at the different pieces.

"Yeah, I'm studying Visual Arts at Uni." She responded. She was a talented artist, that much was clear.

Most of the pieces were predominantly black and white paintings with small splashes of bright colour. I was envious.

"I wish I could do some art." I sighed.

"Well why don't you?" Lauren asked. I turned to look at her.

"Well first of all I'm a cat. And cats don't have opposable thumbs." I say slowly, enunciating each word carefully. Lauren waved her hand dismissively.

"You have paws." She pointed out.

"What good are paws?" I say, staring down at them disdainfully.