My cat Urus - 13

Brad woke with sunlight stabbing through the blinds.

He stretched, groggy, and instantly froze. His arm brushed against something soft and… silky.

He yanked at it, long chestnut strands slid over his shoulder.

“What the.." His voice cracked, not deep and groggy, but light… higher. Too high.

He scrambled out of bed and caught sight of the mirror across the room.

A girl stared back at him. She had his eyes, but softer features, a smooth jaw, hair tumbling down her back. The hoodie she wore hung loose at the shoulders but tightened around a heavy chest, curves he absolutely hadn’t gone to sleep with.

He pulled on the first things that fit, black leggings and a cropped hoodie, cute one.The fabric clung uncomfortably close.

By the time he reached school, he’d braced himself for the stares, the questions. Instead..

“Morning, Britney!”

A girl from chemistry class grinned and waved.

Britney.

In history, Mr. Grant called roll. “Britney Mason?”

“Uh… here,” Brad replied, wincing at the higher tone.

Nobody looked at him twice. Nobody asked. Not even Josh, who tossed him a casual, “Hey Brit, you coming to lunch?” like this was just… normal.

By midday, Brad’s brain was spinning. He caught himself fixing his hair in the bathroom mirror without thinking. Walking past the cafeteria line, the lunch lady smiled. “For you, sweetheart, on the house.”

Free food?

No heavy shoves from the guys in the hall?

Doors held open for him?

It was wrong, all of it, but he couldn’t deny how easy the day felt.

When he got home, his mom lit up like it was Christmas. “Britney! How was school, honey?” She hugged him so tight he almost forgot to breathe.

His dad leaned over the kitchen counter. “How’s my girl doing? You’ve got that math test coming up, right?”

Brad answered without thinking. “Yeah, but I think I’ve got it handled.”

Dinner was warm. Laughter came easy. His parents told stories about “her” childhood, things he didn’t remember living but somehow felt like memories. At one point, Brad found himself smiling so much his cheeks hurt.

Later that night, lying in bed, he replayed the whole day. It felt… safe. Comfortable. Real.

He drifted off with a faint smile.

Darkness.

When his eyes opened again, his hair was short. The curves were gone. His hoodie hung normally.

The dream warmth vanished like smoke.

From the shadows, Urus floated lazily, arms crossed and a knowing grin plastered on his face.

“So, how was your day, Britney?”

Brad sat up, fury flaring. “That was you? You messed with my head?”

Urus shrugged. “A little simulation. Thought you might enjoy a taste of what’s coming.”

Brad’s hands curled into fists. “You’ve got no right.."

“No right?” Urus chuckled. “You enjoyed it. Don’t lie to me. I saw you. I heard you laugh.”

Brad’s jaw tightened. “That wasn’t real.”

“Maybe not,” Urus said, drifting closer. “But tell me, why do you look so disappointed to be back?”

Brad didn’t answer.