It's nightime.
The moon hangs high in the sky.
We would sit under the moon. We'd talk.
I had a reason to be sacred then. Now, when it's a different him and a different me, I can be fearless. But, at the same time, I can't be. The scars hurt, both the mental and physical ones. Bombalurina isn't here. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. My sister would know what to do. I don't.
"Demeter," He says softly.
"What?" My words are sharp. One of the other cats would flinch. They treat me like a bomb, except for Bomba and him.
"Something's wrong." It isn't a question. It's a statement. Maybe that's why I'm here, he doesn't dodge around when he gets to a wall. He faces it.
"You know what's wrong."
"You're just saying that to avoid answering."
"Maybe."
I'm rigid in my spot. So is he, but it's a different kind of rigid. His is the rigid of a trained fighter, mine is the rigid of someone who's afraid.
"You know me, Demeter."
"Not well enough for me to start spilling out my soul to you!" I spat I stand up and take a few paces away from him.
"Because it's only your sister you trust isn't it? Don't lie now."
Don't lie now. A memory comes back. He is yelling at me as I cower in a corner of his lair. I have slipped out for some fresh air, but he thinks otherwise.
"Don't lie to me, Demeter!" He shrieks. His paw is drawn back. He is going to magic me into oblivion. Even if I tell him the truth, he'll do it. I'm terrified. I don't understand how I could love him, but at the same time, I do.
"It was Bomba who saved me." I whisper. He can't hear it. No one can. I turn around to face him. He becomes him, and I can't look. I turn back around and bound away.
I know he's trying to help me, but it hurts too much right now.
I know he's behind me. I'm not Mr. Mistoffelees, or one of the twins, but I know when someone is behind me.
"He said I was beautiful. He said he loved me. He promised me that someday, we-we..."
He places one paw on my shoulder. I touch it.
"We would rule all of the Jellicle cats. And the rest of the cats. And the pollicles, the pekes, the poms, the humans, everyone. Everyone, Munkustrap."
He's closer, only a step, but closer.
"That's why you went with him, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"What about your sister?"
"I don't know."
I turn to face him. He loves me, I know it. But I'm not sure if I love him back, or if I ever will. But I know that I'm taking kitten steps to finally healing, and he will help me.