Chapter 7

I ignored Opal's super pathetic puppy-dog eyes, got changed, stuck out my arm so it could coil around my wrist, and got ready to head out for work.

But as soon as I opened the door, I spotted a cardboard box sitting right there.

Inside was Opal, the same little snake that had insisted on leaving with that girl.

Now it looked much thinner, with a few fresh marks on its body.

I felt my palm tighten. The moment Slinky saw me, it looked up with those big, pitiful eyes, the kind of look I could never resist.

But now, honestly, I didn't feel a thing; my heart was numb.

All I could think about was what to do with it. Just looking at Slinky, you could tell that girl hadn't taken care of it at all. Slinky had suffered quite a bit.

Even though I didn't want to keep it, I wasn't heartless enough to just ignore it.

Just as I was debating what to do with the snake, Opal, still wrapped around my wrist, suddenly went full beast mode, launching himself at Slinky in the box and sinking his teeth in like he was out for blood.

Slinky didn't even try to fight back. It lay there and let Opal chew on it, totally passive.

Seeing the two snakes tangled up in a writhing mess, I felt my scalp go numb. I panicked and tried to yank Slinky off before things got out of hand.

The one in the box technically belonged to someone else now. If Opal actually killed it, that girl might show up demanding dollars from me or something.

But when I finally managed to pull Slinky off, blood still smeared on its lips, it stared at me like it was totally shocked I'd actually pull it away.

I was about to say, "Hey, stop biting it! If you hurt it, I'll have to take it to the vet, and then I'll be broke and can't get you any beef."

But before I could even finish, Opal wiggled out of my grip and slithered off into the house.

That was the first time Slinky ever threw a tantrum at me.

But I didn't have time to comfort it. Work was starting, and Slinky in the box looked seriously hurt, so I had to take it to the vet.

So I didn't immediately try to comfort Slinky inside. I just shut the door, grabbed the box, and headed out.

On the way to the vet with Slinky, it was covered in blood and tried to wrap itself around my wrist. I just kept my arm out of reach, not letting it get close.

I said, "Don't try to butter me up or act all pitiful. I'm not your owner anymore, remember? Your owner is that college girl I paid to take care of you.

"The only reason I'm even dealing with you now is that I'm a decent pet owner and can't stand seeing an animal hurt.

"Right now, you're basically a stray cat to me. Opal bit you, so I'll patch you up, but I'm not keeping you.

"So stop trying to win me over. No matter what you do, I'm not taking you back. Once your wounds are taken care of, I'll leave you with the pet shop owner and let them find you a new home.

"Just hope you don't go turning on the next person who feeds you and gives you a place to stay."

With that, I didn't spare another glance at the snake in the box and stared out the car window.

Honestly, I was really worried about Opal back home. It was the first time it had ever been away from me since it came to live with me.

And when it slithered back inside, I couldn't shake the feeling that it looked so disappointed, so down, maybe even a little heartbroken.

My heart felt all sour and heavy thinking about Opal.

Just like I said, I dropped Slinky off at the vet, paid the dollars for its treatment, and asked them to send it to the pet shop owner.

Then I turned to leave.

Slinky looked like it was still sulking, bouncing around in the glass enclosure, desperate to follow me.

I shot it a quick look and then looked away.

What a worthless snake. Seriously, so low, after betraying me, it still has the nerve to think I'd ever take it back?

That day, worried Opal might still be mad at me, I ordered a ton of imported beef online, hoping to win it over when I got home.

But when I got home from work, carrying the beef, all I found was a snake skin left behind, Opal's old shell, abandoned in the middle of the room.

There was no sign of Opal anywhere.

Even after searching every nook and cranny, I couldn't find a single trace of Slinky. In the end, I couldn't hold back my tears.

It was the first time I'd cried since my grandma passed away.