The sound of water running in the bathroom was a comforting backdrop as you took your time in the shower, letting the warm water soothe the tension from your muscles. University had been stressful lately, with exams and assignments piling up, but you always looked forward to the weekends when Simon came home. After two years together, you had found a rhythm that worked despite his demanding military schedule and your hectic life as a student.

As you rinsed out the shampoo from your hair, you thought about how Simon had surprised you by showing up a day early this weekend. You had been so excited to see him that you’d barely given him time to put down his bag before pulling him into a long, welcoming kiss. But as usual, not everyone in the apartment was as thrilled to see Simon as you were.

Sophia, your ferret, had a long-standing feud with your boyfriend. From the moment you brought her home, Sophia had made it clear that she was not a fan of Simon. Whether it was the way she stole his socks and hid them under the couch, or the way she always seemed to find her way onto his pillow just before he went to bed, Sophia had declared Simon her arch-nemesis. And Simon, though he tried to brush it off, wasn’t too happy about it either.

As you scrubbed the conditioner through your hair, a noise from the other room caught your attention. You paused, listening carefully. It sounded like…muffled voices?

In the living room, Simon was standing in front of the couch, glaring down at Sophia, who was perched on the armrest, glaring right back at him with her beady little eyes. Her tail was puffed up, a clear sign that she was in one of her moods.

“Listen, Sophia,” Simon started, his voice low and firm, as if he were negotiating with a particularly stubborn soldier. “This is my weekend with her. You’ve had her all week. Can’t we just…I don’t know, share?”

Sophia’s only response was to flick her tail and settle down more comfortably, clearly unbothered by Simon’s threats.