Tenacious Me

'It's been so long since I've been addressed by that... Name.'

~ ☆ ~

"...Make it stop, get it out!!! I don't know if I can-!"

A small structure on the outskirts of an equally dilapidated town...

"You have to, Abigail! I believe in you! You can do it; For us, and especially the baby!"

A cold hand grasping another; desperate and determined...

Such gestures of love... Igniting the flames of hope and stability into one's previously weakened form.

'I was told there was so much blood... Even as a newborn, I already caused her such pain. But hey, she's always been so strong, and she sure pulled through, especially with dad there... I guess I get most of that stubbornness from her. I don't think I needed to know the grimy details... But my dad was so fascinated, I could never tell him to shut up with his tales.'

"Taira, our Taira... Our little baby Mika is finally here! She is so beautiful...!"

Words trailed off perhaps as quickly as the warmth once inside my parents' heating palms and hearts.

Their presumed to be "perfect" child...

"Ramond... Please tell me this... What is this!?"

"I don't understand how this could have happened-"

"To US especially! She was supposed to be the one, our special little baby... Now our plans are all RUINED."

The tension in the barely commodious room rises along with the cries of a helpless child in-between two torn adults.

One worried about the public eye; Visions of raising a proud daughter to marry into a fabulously wealthy family... Bringing success, riches to their now struggling lineage. Forced out in her late teens after disobeying her father's wishes, Abigail was left with her newlywed in poverty.

Years of growing bitterness and petty lifestyle choices made along the way, her personality has morphed into that of an insecure, middle-aged woman. Clinging desperately to any luxury brought her way. Without control, the fear takes hold...

Another, an honest, working man... Doing all to please his seemingly constantly restless wife, no matter the cost emotionally or otherwise. For most his life, wanting a family, to be there for them, and now he had it.

He was ultimately grateful both of the only remaining women in his life were at least living, breathing... He'd eternally do whatever he can to please his loved ones.

'A happy wife makes a happy life, huh...?'

I chuckle out, recalling memories of my dear, late mother...

"What do you propose...?"

Consistently ever-rising desperation clings to the new mother's voice while she quickly covers up her baby's abnormally giant-sized vestigial tail...

It looked as if it could wrap around the baby's entire body itself if warranted.

"What would people think seeing this...? Already basically outcasts-! We would just be seen even more as worthless... But now, deformed freaks?"

The husband pondered, his heart panging from the harsh words but never during to speak against Abigail.

All the while, Ramond was thinking about how he's never seen a case quite like this, but was still willing to treat his daughter with all the love and light that he was able to offer... His pleasant thoughts were quickly cut off by his wife's incessant worries and potential future plans being thought up into fruition.

Reluctant but still not protesting despite her jarring antics, Abigail talked him into trying to remove the tail themselves, seeing as she did not even want a professional doctor seeing this.

For some reason, even when the two resorted to more "heavy-duty" supplies, the tail could not be removed.

Panic-filled cries tuned out of Ramond's hearing as he could have sworn he saw it partially glow. Yet however long he continued to stare, it never appeared again.

Written off as just a delusion from all the recent events, they moved onto a more rational idea after Abigail was able to be sat back aside and talked down by her love.

"We could just keep it hidden... A secret. No one will have to know, and everything will be fine! ...Okay?"

Doubt started to sink its clingy fangs into her once again, but she was slowly softening up from her husband's wonderful tone that could always cheer her up.

"Do you think that would really work? What if-?"

Cutting her off to slightly tilt her chin up, making them lock eyes; "Of course it will! We'll still be by each other's sides, and your- Er, our plans will still work out in the end. I promise you."

---

'"What they don't know won't hurt them."' I smile and sing that statement out loud mockingly to myself while staring up at the ceiling. 

...

...

...

My smile slowly disappears absent-mindedly; looking at the seemingly random marks on my near bruise-like, purple hands.

Silence can be so deafening at times.

'Funny, until the truth finally comes out after all and everything goes to shi-'

-insert obnoxious alarm going off noises here-

I sigh in annoyance and quickly dismiss it as my thoughts are interrupted yet again by my stupid, yet still reliable alarm clock.

"I love/hate you so much, Señor Beepy."

A 4'10", 22 years young lass lazing about in bed; Her lightly shimmering gray eyes, almost even clear-looking from certain angles, blinking away any leftover sleep from them and rubbing away any collecting gunk, making sure to be rid of it all from the long lashes practically holding the particles captive...

Rising upwards to sit and gaze out the window for a bit after blowing a strand of her rats nest- I mean, neat and lovely skin-matching hair, that she could even reach, out of her face.

"I should dye the ends again... Meh, maybe later."

Very faint black strands of hair were slowly fading away on the girls "mane" once again.

Since she was even more awake-awake now, the young bundle of stress started to put it up into another messy yet still acceptable bun-of-the-day, trying to maneuver around as well as cover up her previously ever-growing appendages as much as she possibly could... Both of which resembling ears, like that of a feline's.

'No need for those to be seen at the interview.'

"Taiga," as she's been going by for a while now, just decides to go with an older, burgundy beanie for the day; covering her head after realizing that her hair was not enough anymore. She sighs softly afterward and almost gets lost in the waves of thought once more...

Living in an apartment, located in a more secluded area. Still trying to be the hero for others, just like the hero she used to have for herself long ago... But this "hero" still needs a paying job "behind the scenes."

Rainy, foggy weather. The careful, skilled tucking away of a much longer tail. Still however struggling at the practicing of not smiling too wide, so as not to reveal her more fang-like teeth.

Reminders of hateful words, actions from the past similar to those at more recent job sites; the lies of certain costumers whenever their "pet" acted out of turn, the fallout, no one believing a "lesser-being."

Yet, Taiga felt a boost of hope. Despite being fired from her previous job, she crawled out of her funk after many, long weeks, and is ready to go hunting for another place that will hire her.

"Even if I struggle, I just gotta remember I'm strong... And I'll get through this."

A small smile appeared on Taiga's face as she started to try and boost up her self-confidence even more!

...That is, before another, significantly smaller creature awoke at the foot of the young adult's bed... A black, male cat with a little oversized matching spiked color yawned while watching how his owner was still up and talking to herself once again.

"More memories troubling you?"

A significantly deeper voice coming from said cat asks.

"Don't judge me... My cute Spark."

After playfully sticking my tongue out at him, I gladly give him his well deserved pets before getting up and ready to tackle another long day with-

...Oh look, a wet sock.

"EW-!!!"

A pause.

A realization.

'Oh. Great. Stepped in puke again.'

"Pardon me."

Spark says in response after noticing the situation; nonchalantly grooming himself.

(lol

End of the prologue! Thank you for reading, it really does mean a lot!

I finally just suddenly got the motivation to start writing years and years of thoughts in my head and putting it more out there into the world. Maybe someone will enjoy this too.

And yes, any advice/constructive criticism/etc. is always welcomed. I appreciate it.

I'm going to be posting this on my Quotev account as well: https://www.quotev.com/29078680

Thank you as well to each of my loved ones especially, you for sure have been some of the biggest inspirations in my life in general. I'm grateful for everything. ♡ Best wishes, and much love to you all~!)