Page 108 of I'm Not Your Pet

Suddenly, so much made sense. His brilliance, and the way he acted nervous every time he exhibited it. The way he searchedfor praise. The way he melted beneath kind words and touch, like it was his first time experiencing either.

Maybe it was.

“I am sorry your parents did not love you the way you deserve to be loved.” No words had ever felt more important. “If they did not see you, it was because they are blind, not because you are not worthy of attention.”

Tears spilled down Huu-goh’s cheeks as he laughed, a bright, desperate little sound. “You have…” he sucked in a breath, “no idea what that means to me.”

My tongue snaked out to kiss him again.

For hours, I learned everything I could about my little love. I learned his favorite food was something calledpee-za. I learned that he’d been about to attendcaw-legewhen he was abducted. I learned what kind of music he liked, what his hobbies were, the things that kept him up at night. I learned about his father, the late-night meetings, the lipstick on his collar. The way Huu-goh never felt he could truly trust someone because he’d been raised by a liar and knew what it looked like. I learned about pretty things.

The things he’d always wanted, but never knew he could have. The things he’d been certain wouldn’t suit someone “plain” like he was.

Huu-goh told me about his sixteenth birthday.

The birthday that changed everything.

The way his heart had broken in half when he’d realized how little he mattered to the people who were supposed to love him most.

He told me about the science fairs he’d won.

About his scholarship to Her-Verd—a highly prestigious school.

About the dog he’d tried to adopt. About his favorite movie, Spai-Der Man.

He told me about how he’d flunked the test A&R had given him on purpose. Because he’d thought they’d send him back home. But then they didn't.

He laughed, and laughed, and laughed when he told me about the man with “too-many-thumbs”, and he shook when he spoke of “the red door” that had made him more frightened than anything else he’d experienced.

I asked how to please him when we went back aboard the ship.

Asked what he was missing.

And Huu-goh opened up for me. His vulnerability was far more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen, the stars included. If I’d thought he was brilliant and resilient before—it was nothing compared to how I felt about him now.

I had never respected another being more than I did Huu-goh. And I made sure to tell him as much, the truth to soothe whatever aches the talk of the past had left on his heart.

And when Huu-goh was done answering my questions, he asked me questions of his own.

And I returned the favor.

He had a question to match every one of mine, and despite the way the words felt awkward and too large, I still answered. I told him things I’d never told anyone. Personal things. Stories I’d thought I’d bring to my grave with me.

I spoke of Ushuu. The way he’d taken me under his wing. I regaled him with tales about Captain Strongfoot, the man that had taught me everything I knew.

How I ached when I remembered his last words, spoken with blood spilling from his lips.

I recalled the nightmares that still plagued me when I was most vulnerable.

He learned about my father, and the way I couldn’t truly miss him because every time I looked at the stars I felt himlooking back. I told Huu-goh about my siblings, all seventy-three of them. The way I’d watched children get adopted into new families, while I stood in the background, aching.

Happy for them.

Glad to stay, so that I could be of use.

But sad all the same.

I told him he tasted like starlight and freedom.

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