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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Creatures & Monsters
- Published: 11/14/2022
Is It Me, Or is This Apartment Fishy
Born 1970, M, from Georgia, United StatesAlex’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking as he picked up his keys and phone. His girlfriend, Aimie, had planned their Saturday together culminating in dinner at her apartment. He had been seeing her for three months and this was going to be the first time he had gone to her place.
He checked his digital almanac to see what time the full moon would rise. The almanac said 7:05 PM, just over six hours away.
Alex felt lucky to have met Aimie. She was concerned about Alex's well being and didn’t pry into Alex’s life away from her. He felt comfortable around her and felt like he could tell her anything. That is why tonight, he was going to tell her the truth about himself. It was this decision that had him so nervous about their upcoming day together.
After several deep breaths, he looked at himself in the mirror and said, “Time to do this.” He then turned and left his apartment.
The day with Aimie was a good one, but a little awkward. At times, it seemed like Aimie wanted to say something to him, but suddenly would become unusually quiet.
They went back to her apartment where Aimie started dinner while Alex sat on the couch in the living room. From where he was sitting, he could see and talk to Aimie as she worked on dinner.
It was a simple studio apartment with a built in Murphy bed, dining area and kitchen. Along one wall was the couch and opposite it was a small entertainment center with a TV. On another wall, between the corner and the doors to her patio was a large fish tank. On the floor, between the entertainment center and the fish tank was a small dog bed.
The fish tank is what caught Alex’s attention.
The tank was large, about four feet wide and two feet tall and sat on its own enclosed cabinet. Alex could see several, colorful fish swimming among the rock formations that decorated the interior. Among the decorations was a turning mirror ball that scattered light throughout the tank and the dimly lit living room.
Looking at the lights as they traced their patterns on the wall, Alex started becoming tense and his legs started bouncing rhythmically. He clenched his hands together as he sucked on his lower lip.
Aimie came into the living room and said, “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Are you ok?”
Alex looked at her. “No. It’s the lights from the fish tank. Can you turn them off or maybe turn the lights on in here?” he said, his voice edgy and his lips quivering.
She shook her head at him. “Sorry, no. The lights keep the fish calm. And I like looking at the patterns the lights trace on the wall. They’re relaxing.”
Standing up, Alex said, “I can’t stay then. They’re driving me crazy.”
“What is the problem?” Aimie said as she grabbed his arm gently. The calmness in her voice held no hint of accusation, just comfort.
Alex closed his eyes and sighed several times. “I’m a therianthrope, a shape changer like a werewolf and it's a full moon tonight.”
Aimie responded with a musical laugh as she leaned into Alex, wrapping her arms around him as she rested her head on his chest. “It will be alright. I’m a therianthrope too. I turn into a corgi. My friends who have seen me that way say I’m a cute one too, especially when I’m laying in the dog bed watching the fish.”
Tensing up again, Alex looked down at Aimie and said, “But I change into a manx. A cat.”
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