Time for a New Day

Instead of him ignoring her, he greeted her. Not only that, but he asked why she was trying to hide...that there was no reason to. She tried to stifle the whine that came up, ears flattening further against her head as she practically hugged the ground. Had things been different, she would have been completely different. More outgoing, more responsive and jovial and unafraid. But between the night she had made a fatal mistake and the night of the fire, she had changed completely. "Because..." Because...what? She was hideous now? A monster? Afraid of the stares and the possible whispers?

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, desperately trying to control the urge to cry right then and there. "I'm a monster..." She finally managed to whisper.