When she saw her at the pet store she knew. Their souls recognized each other as alike. The rat, alone in the corner. The girl, alone in her world.
Both were meant to be social creatures. Part of a group.
That didn’t stop the people who should’ve known better.
To make up for their alone-ness they found each other. She held the rat as often as possible, for every homework assignment, every family dinner, every painting. They made it work.
It wasn’t enough, but it was all they could do.
For two years.
That was all they had. Two years.