The Attack

She stares me down with malice in her eyes, and her arms twitch in anticipation. I glance to my right and left, formulating an escape route.

 

“So, is this what it’s come down to?” I ask.

 

No response from my adversary.

 

“C’mon, what about all the things I’ve done for you?” I plead.

 

She narrows her eyes at me.

 

Remembering my intentions for our relationship before she showed her true colors, I bravely edge forward to face my fate. All the while, I pet the air in an attempt to placate her misdirected concerns.

 

She stiffens her stance. This isn’t going to be easy, but I try again. “I did my best to take care of you. Whenever you were threatened, I did my best to protect you. How was I to know that, behind my back, you were being picked on? Are you gonna blame me for that? I did something about it as soon as I realized. The other one’s gone now. Now, it’s just you and me.”

 

Even though not a sound escapes her throat, something about my voice calms her a bit. She suddenly seems approachable. And so I step forward and, being the taller one of us, I bend down a bit. Now we are face-to-face, eye-to-eye, mano-y-mano. I feel it’s going to be all right.

 

These are my last thoughts, before she strikes at me. As I look down at the blood dripping from my arm, she darts down the hallway and disappears. It was a silent attack. She didn’t make a peep, before, during, or after.

 

I’m in shock. I replay it in my head to realize what had happened. With claws and teeth, Cuddles had shown me once again who’s boss around here.

 

Maybe I should’ve gotten a dog.

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