There's a half-full bottle of soda on the nightstand next to an empty bag of goldfish crackers. The tiny plastic table on the other side supports a laptop playing random YouTube videos from one silly group of let's players or another. Below the form in the bottom bunk bed is a worn-down velour blanket, and above them is three more layers including a weighted one. The head of the bed has no less than five pillows, each piled up like a nest behind and around the head and shoulders of the sleepless shape. A standing fan rotates side to side, blowing a gentle breeze across the restless form. Such is the way of a squirrel-cat that likes to be cool while also needing the comforting press above them.

Maven had been failing to sleep for hours. They needed to, they wanted to...but the thoughts just kept coming. Anxieties about tomorrow, anxieties about the past day, what they said, what they did, who they didn't talk to, what they didn't accomplish... Self-doubt creeps in, and they squirm, toes curling into the gentle fabric beneath, hips shifting even against that heavy weight above. Their tail frettingly flicked beneath the blanket, still trying to wave with leftover adrennaline. What more could Maven give to placate their racing mind?

They see a message pop up on their laptop. They click it, and the frown begins to dissipate. Someone out there thought about them. Someone out there loved them. "...hee," Maven giggled. The chorus of different voices in their mind quieted and unified into one phrase. "Thank you."

They didn't get to sleep for another hour or two, caught up in enjoying their friend's company, but, when they did, they were smiling, nuzzling into their own large tail, and dreaming of someday embracing a friend like that. Snuggled into that makeshift pillow, they slept soundly. Why be guilty for the gifts you're given when you can be grateful instead?

I have a body pillow I snuggle in bed. I don't have any special cover for it, and I don't intend to. But when I press into it once my brain has calmed, I think of it as my own tail. And I dream of being me. And this me...is very good. Still anxious, still restless, but...they're a lot better at being grateful instead of being guilty than the non-furry me. We'll embrace their gifts and fortunes, smile, and love them back.

And I am so, so grateful to Forest. I still don't fully know what I did to deserve this, but...looking at this makes me feel proud. I feel cute. I feel comfortable. Warm. Wanted. Forest's art always has wonderful expressions, evocative posing, emotional depth...so how could I not adore this? I feel so empowered and loved when I look at this image. I want so badly to take those good feelings and share them with my friends. Now the tough part is figuring out in what form to share my love for them!

Art (c) SpottedSqueak
Maven Treecat (c) Myself