Then Shane Happened

Chapter 3: A Furry Beast Named Fionn

I reach for my phone to call Carly then decide against it.
The news on the TV is as irritatingly boring as always. I fling the remote across the room in anger.
Every thing about this room seems to suddenly annoy me.
For example this rug is to thick and that painting looks smudged

Sigh..

I get up and decide to take a shower. Being myself is a lot of work and Terry's surprise visit has worked me up.

All I want is a nice hot shower or a cool bubble bath to calm me down. I go deeper into the room and I'm led to the bathroom by a narrow corridor that's inches away from the television. Pictures of Carly and I hang on the walls.

I get to the end of the corridor and gawk at the only picture of I and Terry together. The picture brings a disturbing sense of nostalgia.
That day Carly was throwing a house warming party for me because I had just got this house and told me to invite friends so I invited Terry.

In the picture we're both sitting in the couch, an awful look is spread cross my face as I look at the gift in my head distastfully, Terry on the other hand isn't even looking at the camera but instead is admiring me despite my chilly attitude and is wearing the widest grin I have ever seen him wear.

The gift was a biography of my afterlife that he wrote himself. He worked really hard on it and I told him I loved it. Although he didn't believe me, he smiled anyway and made sure I enjoyed the rest of my party.

He had told Carly to take a picture to remember this moment and of course, like the animated person that she is, she took the picture without hesitatation and now Terry has that picture all over his house, in his wallet and as a wallpaper on his phone. I can't blame him though. It is the only picture of just us together.

I study the picture a little longer than necessary. I take a few turns then arrive at bathroom. A little golden girl is placed against the black door indicating that it was for females only.
Without a second thought I open the door, walk in and undress myself. The bathroom is wide with the walls made of solid gold. I can hear the echos of my footsteps as wall over the short stack of stairs leading to the a large circular bathtub at the center of the room. I sink in and I'm immediately at ease. The hot water burns my skin but I don't care. I take the soapy lavender liquid and pour it all over me as I soak, the bubbles begin to form covering my nakedness.

I lay lower and I am buried neck down in lather. I close my eyes and relax letting the heat and sweet smell of fresh flowers engulf me. I'm smiling and I feel completely chill. All of my worries and problems wash off my mind like the dirt on my skin. I take a little dip and my hair is soaked. I push my hair to the sides, all owing each strand to stick together. I take another look at my reflection on the blurry mirrors walls of the room. I don't allow myself to drift to much but in seconds my eyelids become heavier and the impossiblity of keeping them open hits me
and I'm lost in my sleep...

*

I wake up to a loud sound. A bark. Then another. Then some more. I stand up from the tub. My whole body is covered in pale wrinkles. I silently curse myself for falling asleep. I hear more barking.

What the hell?

I take a white robe of the hangers and tie it on my body. I amble towards the door and open it. As I do, a furry white German Shepherd pounces on me and pulls me to the floor. He starts licking my face vigorously and I can't help but smile.

How the hell did I forget my baby?

"Who's a good boy... Come on.... Tell me... You are... Yes you are.."

I rub his belly in response to him welcoming me.

"Did you miss mommy? One bark for yes, two barks for no."