Prepossessing

[Chapter 1]

"So tell me Felix, do you have any responsibilities?"
Those words hang in the air for a moment, and I look up at her. She smiles, hands placed in her lap, patiently waiting for me to reply. I swallow, lick my dry lips, and brush some hair out of my face slowly. "I... I have Edgar... I guess.. but.. he's not.. really much of a responsibility.. i mean.. I feed him, clean him-- he's the only thing that gets me out of the house apart from food.. but.. otherwise.. he doesn't feel like a responsibility..." I murmur, fiddling with the sleeves of my jumper. They're far too long, but that's the way I love them.

She's silent for a moment, in thought, but those smiling lips open again. "Have you tried getting another pet?" She asks.

That was the conversation that led me into the pet shop. My therapist behind me, smiling. I look back to her for comfort, and she nods, edging me forward. I glance around the pet shop. It's filled with cages, huts, vivariums, aquariums, and noises. Beautiful noises.

I slink forward, reaching forward to run my fingertips along the cage bars quietly. I stop, just outside a cage, and peek inside. I lean backwards as a small pink nose pops out, twitching and sniffing. I place my fingertip just underneath it, and it leans down to sniff. I feel two small hands clasp around my finger and it causes me to giggle quietly. I look back to my therapist and she smiles, inclining her head towards the animal. I move my finger away, and look deep into the eyes of the tiny white mouse that snuffles and rubs its snout with its small hands. It squeaks, looking at me. It probably things I'm another larger mouse with my white hair. "I.. I would like this little guy.." I murmur, softly.

Signe, my therapist continues to smile. "Alright then. This is all your decision Felix.". I take note of his number and shuffle to the checkout. "He..hello? I would.. like to buy mouse number 7 please.." I murmur.
The man behind the till looks up at me. "Alright- will you be needing its cage and provisions too?" He asks. I look back to Signe and she widens her eyes at me as if to say, yes.
I nod at him, and he slinks out from behind his counter, he slides the cage out, and picks up my new friend, placing -- her -- as I found out, into a fresh new carrier, filled with straw and some little nibbles, along with water. He places the carrier on the checkout desk, leaving to go get a bag of mouse food for me. He sets it next to the carrier and looks at me expectantly. It takes me a minute before I realise, and rifle in my pocket to pay. I take my credit card out. He smiles and hands me the machine.

After the payment was successful, I take my new friend and her food and shuffle out of the pet shop with Signe.
"I'm proud of you Felix. You didn't have a panic attack this time." She says clearly, walking alongside me friendly.

"Well... ordering food is much different than paying for an animal..." I reply, quietly. Surprisingly enough. Even though I'm so happy and loud in all my videos, I'm the complete opposite in real life. When I make videos, I'm alone, it's much different when face to face with some complete stranger. I glance down into the carrier to see that my new mouse had curled up in the corner with some food. I smile, looking back up, and narrowly avoid hitting a pole.
Signe leads me up the steps of my house and stands outside with me.
"You're making good progress Felix. Honestly I'm proud. Here" she reaches into her pocket to hand me a slip of paper. "Your prescription. Take care of her, I'm sure you'll do a good job anyway. I'll see you soon" she says, climbing down the steps two at a time, she waves at me, curling her scarf around her neck tighter, and slinging her hands into her pockets. I watch, as she turns the corner and only then
do I open my front door. I hear scrambling, barking and a loud thud against the second door, and my mouse squeaks in alarm. "Calm down Edgar" I murmur. He whines, and I close the front door behind me, setting the bag of mouse food down, and locking the front door. Once I open the second door, Edgar is jumping at me, slobbering on my leg and whimpering. I'm sure he can smell the mouse, and it's making him slightly anxious. I sigh, picking up the mouse food and wandering into one of the many spare rooms. It's the one next to the kitchen, and it's rather spacious. It doesn't consist of much. A few tables and chairs and a lot of space.