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A soft morning light stretched over my face out of the down-turned blinds shielding my window, warming the skin (or scales, I suppose) of my face in a somewhat comforting manor. I turn to my side, pulling the familiar blanket over my head in attempts to block the morning out. Honestly I didn’t quite mind the idea of being swallowed back into sleep by the darkness right now. The day could wait…
It could always wait, now.
It’d been a week since the incident that ripped my life up from the roots. A week since my gradual decent into sub-humanity began.
I didn’t notice it at first, but soon it was all that anyone could think about… could talk about. It started with a slightly off-green tint to my skin. Honestly It didn’t quite stand out. Not really. No one seemed to be able to tell, at least. The more I think about it, the more it seemed like it was just from a lack of anyone paying attention to me.
I think I’ve always felt a bit isolated. Maybe not non-human, but it certainly seemed like people didn’t look at me the same way that they did everyone else… when they did acknowledge my existence, that is. I can’t really say I have a reason to feel so alone, either? I mean, I have a loving family and I have some pretty great friends. It was only recently that I would say I could justify my feelings of alienation.
Regardless that, it wasn’t until my words started to drag and I developed a worse lisp than I already had that the others took notice of the chances that were happening to my body. After that it all went right down the side of the mountain and barreled straight into the cursed realm.
One morning while I was brushing my teeth Zane walked into the bathroom and took notice of the fact my canines looked more like fangs…
”Jay? Have your teeth always been so… long?” Zane asked from behind me, causing me to jolt and almost choke on the foamed up toothpaste in my mouth. I have no idea how i missed the door sliding open.
I spat the toothpaste out and rinsed out my mouth by filling up the small cup by the sink with water.
”Sssweet sspinjitzu master— Hi Zane.” I wheezed. It felt like my soul had been ripped straight out of my body from what should’ve been a small scare.
”Good morning Jay. I’m sorry for scaring you.” Zane gave a small wave with a really off metallic noise just barely audible in the silence. What could he possibly be wearing under his clothes… I imagined a very thin suit of knights armor and let out a short breath in amusement at myself.
“It’ss fine, Zane.” I stated, washing off my toothbrush under the water and setting it in the cup to dry, making sure it was opposite to the other brushes and facing outward, “What’sss up?”
Zane looked on at me with what seemed to be mild concern, though he didn’t repeat what he asked before… thank the land and everything on it for that.
”I just wanted to let you know that Sensei Wu wants us to ‘busy ourselves’ with some chores while he’s out.” He said instead and waited for me to respond to it.
I gave a short nod in reply, ”Alright, thankss.”
”Of course.” Zane stepped backwards and the door slid shut, leaving me inside and alone with my reflection.
I looked at the mirror to meet the eyes of the monster before me.
What have I become?
Less than human, but more than an animal.
A light knocking tapped rhythmically against my door and I peeked my head out of my blankets to see who’d even consider coming to my room.
Who am I kidding, I know who it is.
The door creaked open slowly and a gentle voice called into the room; “Jay, sweetheart?”
It was my momma.
I ran off back to my parents after I felt the pressure of the other’s suspicions get too much… of course I would. They were the only people I really had, the only ones who I knew (or at least hoped) would always accept me in any state.
She walked over to my bedside and set down a white porcelain plate on my side table, resting her hand on my head and softly ruffling my hair.
”I brought you some munches, hun. Please do eat sometime,” She started before kneeling down and giving me a kiss on the head. I could only manage to watch her with my eyes in return. “Alright?”
She got back up slowly and walked towards the door empty handed. She stopped at the door though and turned to look back at me with a seemingly mournful expression.
”Me and your father love you, kiddo.”
She reminded me before exiting the room a little too brisk-fully for my liking.
I laid in silence staring at the doorway for a long time, lost in my thoughts. I wonder what she thought of me now. Was I really still her son? Did she cry thinking of the man— or rather— the creature that I’ve become? She seemed sad to see the state I was in.
I think I would be too. I don’t think I’ve eaten much this week besides dinner, and even then I’ve been skipping that more and more as time goes on. Beyond that I’ve barely left my room for more than going to the restroom and making sure my parents are alive at night.
Lately all of my time has been spent laying in bed mourning the person I once was and trying to decide what I can even make of this situation besides crying and feeling sorry for myself. I’m far too human to be a serpentine… but I’m too much of a snake to be a human.
Tears pricked my eyes like needles. I was pathetic. This wasn’t very ninja like of me, was it? But how could I be strong for myself when I’m no longer me.
My head felt airy and my eyes felt heavy, so I closed them once more. I think I could use more sleep.
I turned over in my sheets and practically curled my body around one of my pillows. I could feel that disgusting tail appendage move with me, reminding me even more of the disgusting state that I was in. My stomach was more than a hollow pit by now and yet bile still threatened to spill out at the very thought of my own body.
… I’m not very hungry. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow. Sleep seemed to be calling me back anyways.
At least there I was more of a person than I could ever be here.
