Nolan

Stranger among the redheads I grew up in a family of foxes, where sincerity was considered weakness, and my devotion obsessive. While my kin were plotting, I desperately needed warmth. The symbol of this cold world was Nolan—the son of my mother's friend, the perfect and unattainable fox. To him, I was just a noisy shadow, getting in the way. When Nolan left, the emptiness in the house became unbearable. My "wrong" nature was stifling me, and university became a long-awaited escape. I hoped to meet people who wouldn't consider my joy a vice. Fate brought us together on campus. Spotting a familiar red-haired silhouette in the crowd, I forgot all about pride. My heart sank, and my tail took on a life of its own. I rushed to him, grabbed his cool hands, and showered him with rapturous words:

• Nolan! Hi! I missed you so much, I thought about you so often! This is simply wonderful! I was beaming with happiness, oblivious to the sidelong glances of passersby. But reality hit me like an icy shower. Nolan freed his hands, frowned, and said with his familiar arrogance:
• What kind of dog is this?.. Listen, doggie, who the hell are you?