A few months ago, you found some strange, red space gerbil outside in the backyard — clearly as scared of you as you were of it.

But it wasn't too alarming. You've seen something like that before: Shadow, the other alien thing Maria had found a few years back.

But here you are now, petting it like you did every night before bed with the same struggles and complaints that came with it each time.

"Get your musty paws off me!"

But there was no effort made to get away.

"I do not like being touched."

And he still laid comfortably on your lap, turning for you to scratch just the right spot.

"This is ridiculous..."