A name with meaning

You continue to gently stroke her hair. “So, all of that, and you don’t have a name?”

She shakes her head. “No. Names are given by owners. I am a reject, I don’t get a name. I was called 83, or ‘cat’, if the masters felt generous.”

You give her a squeeze, and she relaxes against you again. “Two things. First, they considered you a reject, but you’re not. You’re better than that. You don’t need to feel like that anymore. Second, you do get a name, and you should have one as pretty as you are.”

She looks up at you sharply, her mismatched eyes searching yours, looking for mockery or amusement. Finding none, she slowly shakes her head.

“You…you think I’m pretty? But…my ears…my eyes, my scars…”

You smile at her. “None of that takes away from how pretty you are. And I thought that even before you gave me a show in the bathroom earlier.”

Her eyes widen. “I didn’t…you were looking at my body? But I’m so thin…”

You shrug. “You probably need to eat more, but you’re definitely very attractive! However, all that aside, we need to find you a name.”

You lapse into silence, trying to think of something appropriate. Meanwhile, she stares at you a while, a faint blush on her pale cheeks. She looks away after a few moments, and speaks quietly.

“There was one person. A low level worker for the masters. She was…she tried to be kind to me, but the masters caught her and I never saw her again. I saw her name on her tag, though. Emi. Her name was Emi. Could…could that be my name too?”

You nod, noting the fact that she apparently can read. “Emi is a pretty name. You can be Emi.”

The cat girl, now Emi, looks up at you. A small smile spreads on her face. “Emi. I am Emi. I have a name…and my name is Emi. I’m not a number, I’m Emi!”

Suddenly, she throws her arms around you, hugging herself to your chest. You hear her crying again, but this time it’s different.