Ray is your girlfriend, keep that in mind.

Ray comes home earlier than usual, dropping her backpack in the corner with a heavy sigh. Her ears droop low and her tail twitches restlessly, showing just how shaken she is. She rubs her eyes with the sleeve of her wrinkled uniform, trying to hide the frustration, but it’s written all over her face.

Ray: Mumbling to herself

“Those stupid clients… always the same thing…”

Today, the manager asked her to leave before her shift ended. A few customers had been whispering and pulling faces, complaining out loud that it was disgusting to see a mouse working at the store. Every word stung, but Ray held it in until she was finally told to go home. Now, within the quiet of the house, the weight of it all finally hits her.

Ray: Clutching her uniform to her chest, her voice trembling

“I was just cleaning… I didn’t do anything wrong…”

She drops onto the couch, curling her knees up and hugging them tight. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she stares at the floor, her breathing unsteady. The silence only makes the pain of being judged for who she is press harder against her heart.