A Tiny Almond in a Big World

Having a girlfriend was nice. Or maybe having Charlie as a girlfriend was nice. They would constantly go to Charlie’s room. She would start teaching Almond how to play the drums but somehow they always ended up smooching in Charlie’s bed. Charlie would sometimes insinuate about how she wanted to see her beautiful girlfriend without a hat, but Almond always changed the subject. This happened not only with Charlie, but also with other friends who would try to convince Almond to show them this awful disease that made her always wear a hat. At least there was always someone to say “hey, she doesn’t want to, so just leave her alone” and no one would dare to say anything else. The problem was that being alone with Charlie, there was no one to say anything about it. “You know that I’m gonna love ya no matter what is under your hat, right?” Charlie started up again, casually caressing Almond’s face. “Yeah, but it’s complicated….” Almond looked away, trying to prepare herself to start this discussion again. “Fine.” Charlie didn’t wait for anything else before going back to kissing her girlfriend. Almond always had a hard time thinking about anything while being kissed. The only thing that passed through her mind was how much she wanted to keep kissing Charlie. And those thoughts were so distracting, that Almond only noticed what was happening once it was too late. In one quick motion, Charlie took Almond’s hat off and broke the kiss, looking with amazement at the now uncovered unicorn horn. “Why would you even want to keep this a secret?!” Charlie exclaimed with excitement. It took Almond a moment to finally react. She picked her hat back up and tried to not blush so much. “Charlie!” She tried to put her hat back, having a hard time settling it right with shaking paws. “Shouldn’t you be in like, a wizard school? Like in Harpy Otter! You should be Harpy Otter!” Charlie was so excited that she seemed to ignore her girlfriend’s teary face. “You should be out there fighting evil, Almond!” “Charlie, stop!” Almond said now with a shaky voice too. That got Charlie’s attention, but she didn’t seem amused by it. “I could be in danger if anyone discovers it, alright? You can’t tell anyone, Charlie. Promise me!” “Of course, sugar cube.” Charlie smiled. But Almond could see in her mind that it was a lie.

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Almond didn’t want to give any explanations to Ursula. She only went home and said they needed to move again. Ursa didn’t want to insist. Almond would tell whatever she wanted when she felt ready for it. This was their last move together. Almond kept to herself in this last year of school, not many friends, trying to find solace in music. When school ended, she didn’t know what to do. She just stayed home with her music.

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Almond was never the anxious type. At least nothing like his mama. But it didn’t stop him to feel his heart beating fast and fast. He just needed to talk to Ursa. And break her heart. You know that’s what will happen, don’t try to pretend it won’t. Even if it’s for your freedom. “Mama?” Almond said, approaching Ursa. She was sitting in her armchair, reading the newspaper. As soon as Almond approached, she put down the newspaper, her attention solely on her kid. “I have something to tell you.” “Yeah? And what is it, darling?” She displayed a soft smile that almost makes Almond give up. “I’m going to university next semester.” He knew it was no good delaying such conversations. It would bring less worry to just lay down everything he wanted to say. “I know you don’t like it, but I need to go. I want to study music there. I can take care of myself.” Ursa took a moment before speaking, “Fudge, I-I’m not sure if,

Oh, god, what I did wrong? Is he mad at me? Am I so awful that he can’t wait to just get away from? Where did I go wrong? Oh, god, Fudge, I can do better! Just tell me what I did wrong and I’ll be better!

if it’s a good idea.” Almond made an effort to not let any of Ursa’s thought enter his mind again. It was already hard enough without Ursa’s inner monologue. He knew she meant well, but he needed to go. It was time and he just needed to make her understand that. “Mama, please, stop.” “Darling, you know I can’t stop worrying about you.” Ursa offered a sad smile, and Almond knew she was ready to convince him to stay. She opened her mouth to continue and Almond did what he could. Mama mama mama please mama please let me go I need to mama mama please. Ursa stopped for a moment, before continuing. “I, I guess I don’t have a choice, right?” “Mama...” Ursa walked up to Almond and gave him a kiss on the forehead, already used to dodging his horn. Almond had to resist the urge to read his mama’s mind. He knew it won’t do anyone any good. “It’s fine. Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself, alright? Just don’t let anyone see your horn, please.” Ursa tried her best to hide her teary voice. My boy. So grown up. Falena, please, just take care of him. “I know, mama. No one has seen my horn in four years.” Almond stood up. “I promise I’ll be careful and I promise I’ll write to you every day, alright?” Ursa gave a soft smile. I think she actually accepted it, I’m going to uni…. “I’ll take a letter per week.” Ursa sighed. It wasn’t easy for her but Almond really appreciated how much she was trying. “Come on, we have a lot to prepare for. Have you decided where you’re staying? I need to know how much money to send and to where.” “Yes, mama.”

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University! It was so exciting! And she was going to study what she most loved: music. Almond was preparing for this for months. She was going to stay at one of the dormitories with a roommate. They have talked a lot online, and the roommate’s name was Portia. A nice hairless cat that was a couple years younger than Almond. She was freshly out of high school, unlike Almond, who vegetated at home for some years after graduation. They shared some photos, of course all of Almond’s photos had her in a hat. Portia questioned it, and Almond made sure to say that she was very self-conscious of her antennae and hint of some kind of antennae malformation. Portia showed herself sympathetic so Almond was sure it wouldn’t be a problem. At least not a Charlie-like problem. And today was the day the two would meet in person, finally! She was excited, even without meeting in person they were already good friends. Almond entered the room, having a hard time balancing all her boxes and walking at the same time. “Whoa there, let’s try not break anything on our first day.” Portia smiled, picking some of Almond’s boxes. “Breaking stuff is a must for our second day. C’mon, keep up with the schedule.” Almond let out a small laugh. This was one of the reasons she likes Portia so much, she was pretty funny. “Thank you. But schedules are for losers.” “Of course, that’s why I sent it to you,” Portia replied quickly, with a smirk adorning her face. “I’m surprised your mom isn’t helping you with the boxes. By what you said, I was afraid she would sleep with us tonight.” “God, don’t be so dramatic.” Almond rolled her eyes. “Mama can’t drive so she decided to not come with me. But she cried enough at home to make up to it.” “Couldn’t she call a cab or something? It’s not like driving is the only way to get here.” Portia settled the boxes down, with a bit more noise than needed and letting Almond a bit worried about broken things. “Also, I already claimed my bed, sorry but you get the worst one.” “Mama don’t like, uh, talking to people, so she don’t get along with cabs or anything.” Almond also put down her boxes, then sitting down on her bed. “Also both beds look the same.” “They are, but yours worse.” Because I said so. Portia displayed the same smirk. “Anyway, there’s anything else you need to bring? I can help you or something.” “Nah, that’s all.” Almond decided to lie down in the bed, feeling too tired. “Do you need help with your things?” “Too late, my sisters already helped me with it. I mean, more like Cassie carried them all and my little sister, all using only one of her paws.” Cassie was Portia’s big sister, and the one who practically raised her. And the little sister was Iris, a gremlin, as Portia described her. “Cassie is such a show off.” Almond didn’t have to read Portia’s mind to know that she meant it with love. The unicorn just closed her eyes and enjoyed the freedom. No mama here, just Almond and her friends.

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“Ok, time to wake up, sleepy beauty.” Someone shook Almond, what was more than enough to wake her up. And of course she had to make sure her hat was still on place. “You know it’s pretty rude to sleep while talking to someone, right?” “Sorry, I’m tired.” You slept for three hours how are you still tired. “God, stop judging me.” “I didn’t even say anything!” Portia said with a fake wounded voice. Almond took a bit of time to be sure to not hear any other stray thoughts from Portia. She would need to train it better, always after waking up it was hard to not hear anything. “Sorry. What did you want from me anyway?” “I don’t know, I bought some stuff for us to drink and eat and I thought we could sit down on the floor and talk and be dumb or something.” Portia shrugged. “It’s our first day at uni, let’s have fun!” “Yeah, sure, it sounds like fun.”

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“Why again are we sitting at the floor?” Almond asked, having a hard time finding a comfortable position. “Because we are being dumb, didn’t you listen to me?” Portia flashed other of her smirks. “Now shove some marshmallows on your mouth and stop complaining.” “Fine, at least make it interesting.” Almond said, soon actually shoving too many marshmallows on her mouth. And Portia did make it interesting. She was good at talking, very good. She was smooth too. And more even, she really liked to touch Almond: her shoulders, her hat and even her neck, constantly bringing her close to herself. Ugh, how do people even know how to like ask to kiss someone?! Do I just kiss her? No, that would be like rude or something. She isn’t dating anyone and she is into girls. She’s nice, she wouldn’t be a jerk if she’s not interested. Just ask her. “Hey, Portia?” Almond got closer to her, her faces very very close. “Yeah?” she said almost without breath. “Can I kiss you or something?” Oh, so that’s how you ask it. Portia didn’t answer with words, just pressing their faces together. It was nice. Very nice. It was better than any kiss with Charlie, Almond had the feeling that Portia had way more practice than Charlie. Portia put her paws on Almond’s hat, pushing her closer. But soon Portia’s paws made a down motion and the hat feel from Almond’s head. Intentionally, clearly. As much as Almond was trying to not think of Charlie, this did really brought her memories of her first girlfriend. Maybe I should stop kissing cute girls. Portia gasped, now a bit far from Almond. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. That was dumb.” Portia made a small pause. “I’m dumb. I’m sorry, Almond, that was really bad.” Almond wasn’t very sure how to react. At least she feels bad for it, a step ahead of Charlie. “Why did you even do that?” Almond put her hat back, putting then more space between her and Portia. “I don’t know. I was dumb.” Portia sighed. “I thought you had no antennae or something like that. So doing it I could know what it was and like empower you or something. Show you that no matter what trait you lacked you still are beautiful and have no need to be ashamed of it and like hid it or anything like that.” I didn’t expect a unicorn horn. Specially not in a human place. It’s not safe, why isn’t she in the island with the fairies? “For god’s sake. Why everyone thinks I should be on this damn island? Why shouldn’t I have the world like everyone else?!” Almond almost yelled, very much frustrated. She sounds like mama. Maybe mama was right and I should have gone to a uni on the island. But if everyone knew my secret, would I ever be able to leave safely? Everyone heard at least once about humans waiting for rare mothcats to leave the island and snag them up. Why were all the humans so awful? “I’m sorry I just think it would be-” Portia stopped herself. I didn’t say it out loud. “I can read minds, it comes with the horn. But I try to give people privacy.” Almond didn’t add unlike you but she was sure Portia could add it herself. Even if Almond wasn’t giving so much

What embarrassing things have I thought here with Almond?

privacity this time. “I wasn’t reading your mind until the kiss, alright? You don’t need to worry.” “Great….” Portia quieted down. Even her thoughts seemed to turn down a little. She stayed like that for a couple minutes, and Almond preferred to stay with her own thoughts. “I’m really sorry. I promise I’m not telling anyone about it, and I understand if you want to get another roommate. I won’t complain.” Almond had to look at Portia’s mind, she had to be sure. And she couldn’t find anything besides that, yeah, Portia was telling the truth. No one would hear about the horn. Almond couldn’t help but feel herself relax. “It’s fine. At least I won’t have to pretend anything to you. It will be nice to not have to wear a hat in my own room.” “I’m really sorry….” “It’s fine, just never do it again.” Almond offered a faint smile. “I promise.” Portia made a pause. “Thank you, you’re a cool gal, Almond.”