My Secret Is No Longer Safe

I bet that was a real shock, huh? You thinking today was just any other day when you walk through the door to see your sister wearing a pink collar and dog ears, with a bone in her mouth, bouncing around the living room. I cannot imagine what was going through your head.

We both stood completely still for what felt like hours. Time didn't start up again until you croaked out a simple "Hi".

I ran to my room and locked the door behind me before hiding under my covers. Why did you have to come home right then?! Couldn't it have been at any other moment?

Oh, who am I kidding? I knew your schedule. I should have known when you'd be home. Maybe I had danced in the living room because I subconsciously wanted you to see me acting like a dog girl.

There were multiple points that night where I just sobbed. My secret was out. My brother knew. Soon everyone would know. What was I going to do? Maybe I could move into a pet store on the other side of the country, put myself up for adoption? I don't know who would want to adopt the weird pet who tried to go to college.

I eventually managed to fall asleep despite the cortisol running through my body. That night, I dreamt about wearing my dog ears and collar while you stared at me in disgust.

"Get out of here. I don't want you living with me anymore, you liar."

"Please, don't kick me out! I could be your pet! I could do what you told me to!" I desperately pleaded through my tears.

"Who would want you as a pet, the girl who pretends to be a woman?"

"No, please! I can be a good girl! I can be your good girl!"

"You'll never be good, and you'll never be a pet."

I woke up gulping for air as I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.

Laying on my side for a moment while I try to get used to my life being over, I heard the sound of a door knob being jiggled. Suddenly, my door swung open as you walked in. My eyes went wide before I threw my blanket over the top of me before you could see the tear marks on my face.

"Go away," I muttered.

You didn't respond immediately. Instead, I felt you crawl into my bed and get under the blanket with me. I felt both a nervous chill and an excited stomach flip at the same time. You were so close to me, looking right into my eyes.

"Hey, sis."

"...Hey."

"This isn't the end of the world, you know? It's okay to be a pet."

I tried to say something in response, but I couldn't get the air out of my lungs to do so.

"So what if you're a pet? I know you. You put your heart and soul into everything you do. You're going to be the best damn pet there ever was, you know that? Someone is going to be the luckiest owner in the world, I promise you."

My lips began to tremble as the tears fell from my face. All I could do was smile at you.

"Thank you so much, bro... I'm so scared, but..."

You wrapped your arms around me and I just melted into you as we laid there.

"Everything's going to turn out okay, you'll see."

All of my happiness from last night came back in full in that moment. Feeling you holding me, comforting me, approving of me becoming a pet, they had my whole body tingling. I was a pet, and my brother was happy for me.