The little girl waved goodbye as she ran into her friend's house, her tan tail shaking with excitement.  Anon watched her, leaving only when the door closed behind her. The ghost of a smile played on his face. The ears and tail she loved so much never failed tearing his heart apart. Deep breaths, he reminded himself. This was his day off, it wouldn't do to ruin it with stupid memories. They’d taken care of everything precisely so he would be free from it all.

 Anon drove away wondering what he would do with all this free time. He could watch some wrestling or read some of those short stories he found. A colorful circus tent was being raised on the side of the road and the sight of it nearly made him mad. Deep breaths. They said it'd get easier and every time he believed them he slipped back into that spineless bitch that couldn't even keep his hands steady. He almost crashed when he pulled over, his nerves too shot to even drive properly. Anon slammed the sun visor down, the picture of his daughter dragging him back from the edge of panic. For her. He had to stay strong for her.

Anon tasted a bitter sensation of pride and disgust. He'd heard children were resilient but he never expected Amaou to bounce back so fast. It's like she inherited some parts from... Anon slapped his face before pulling back into the road. He kept distracted on the drive back, managing to calm down again as he pulled into the garage. The house was quiet and everything was the way he left it. Why, then, did he feel so off balance? It had been a while since Amaou got a chance to hang out with her friends. Not to mention his little mishap on the way home. That didn’t feel right, but it couldn’t be anything more than lingering discomfort.

His soft steps echoed through the house as he got ready to watch wrestling reruns. The TV blinked on as some news report came on. The remote creaked as his grip tightened, a chill creeped up his spine. The news report gripped his attention in a steel vice.

"-The hospital guards captured two of the runaways but the third is still at large.  Currently, we do not have the identity of the criminal; although, the police are analyzing witness testimonies and security camera footage to uncover the escapee’s identity. The criminal is dangerous and responsible for the death of one psychiatrist and the injury of two others. If you have any information you believe could help, call-" The TV turned off and the world shattered.

The room spun, light vanished, and a horrible void opened in Anon’s heart. He knew. He'd know the moment he'd entered his home. A detail insignificant to anyone not familiar with her. A detail he’d had the privilege of experiencing every day. The memory came, a warped thing Anon had buried deep. The tinkling bells from the front door. That energetic laugh that always pulled him in. The warm embrace and the smell. A perfume he'd given her for their first anniversary. She wore it everyday, her good luck charm. Clink. Anon snapped back to reality. Clink. Blood rushed in his ears and his breathing turned ragged. Clink, clink. A single thought looped in him. He had to run. It was a fact, a law, so why did his fucking legs not respond. His body was numb; his limbs frostbitten and stiff. Soft fabric rustled behind him, her perfume left him nauseous. His existence became a pin prick. Senses shut off as panic ruled his mind, but she forced them back. Touch came with her fingers sliding up his arms, her sharp nails clawed dark memories out of him. Her hot breath caressed his neck making Anon whimper, a small pitiful sound. Soft lips slid over his neck and sharp teeth pressed down on his skin. Too much, too fast. Things that were forgotten (ignored) rushed back with a scream that tore at his throat. He collapsed on the floor, his aborted escape only getting him out of her grasp.

She vaulted over the couch, landing next to Anon with that small flourish she always did. "Did you miss me? I know I missed you. Your warmth. Your smile. Your taste~." She laughed at the shriveled mess jittering on the floor. With a well placed kick she rolled Anon to his back and dropped on top of him. He didn't think to fight back, only bringing his arms over his face as wet sobs escaped him.

"Look at yourself. A sad little thing that can't even look me in the eyes. You wanted to live with Amaou and keep her all to yourself. How could you ever protect her? How could you be so fucking stupid huh?" She laughed again, long and hard. "I know you hate me. It hurts you know? Imagine, your soulmate never looking you in the eyes."

She wrapped her hands around his head: Anon whimpered as her claws dug into him. "Am I some disgusting thing you can't wait to get rid of?"   Their heads met, Polka took deep breaths, and smiled again. "I love you. I love Amaou. All I want is to be one happy family. A family that stays together no matter what. But you seem determined to make Amaou sad. You forced her poor mom to stay away."

"You- you did this. You hurt us." A disgusting wail bubbled out of him. “I love you too. I love you and it hurts so much.” Anon’s eyes drifted nearer to Polka’s face but never met her stare. “Amaou still asks me when you’re coming back from the circus trip. She doesn’t remember. I lied to her so much because of you. B-because her bitch of a mother left her in the fucking-.”

"Don't you dare! You always play the victim. It's never your fault. No, it's always me. I messed everything up. I got the police involved. I made a big scene out of it!" Deep breaths. Polka pulled Anon’s shirt off his shoulder. He had a scar, a roundish shape of different colored skin. "Aahh, I know you. You always trip me up, but I know how to keep us all together. I just need to finish what I started."

"No! I'm sorry! Please! I love you! Don’t-" Polka and Anon kissed on last time. It was warm and wet and Polka loved the taste of his lips