FIFTEEN
Guilt eats me from the inside out as I lie in the kennel. Daddy left the room after trying to talk to me for a little while. I ignored him. I just can’t get over him calling me Little pet and treating me like an actual pet who has to crawl around and eat when told.
I love that he takes care of me, but him treating me like a dog makes me so annoyed.
I toss and turn once again as I try to settle in the kennel and fall asleep. I should be sleeping by now, fast asleep and having good dreams, but I can’t seem to. I shouldn’t have been as harsh as I was and ignored Daddy, but I couldn’t help it. I’ve told him that I don’t like it when he calls me Little pet, yet he still does it.
Does he still see me as a pet and not a human being?
Will he ever see me as the woman I am?
“Little pet?” Daddy softly says as I hear his footsteps into the living room. “Are you okay?”
Tears pool in my eyes, and I quickly cover them with my hands. I was horrible to him, but he is still checking in on me.
“I don’t like that nickname,” I mumble.
“What was that?” Daddy opens the kennel door.
Is he really going to make me say it all over again? I said it to him last night, and this is how we got into this situation. Or does he really want to start it again so he can tell me it’s my fault?
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out without saying anything to him. If he wants to play at this, then I can as well.
“Little pet?” Daddy gently touches my shoulder.
I move my shoulder out of his grip, but Daddy just does it again.
“Talk to me,” he begins. “Communication is key in a relationship. We need to talk about misunderstandings so they don’t become even greater and cause more harm.”
My heart aches as he speaks. I know I should talk to him about it like the adult I am, but it’s so hard when he does everything that I don’t like.
“Can you turn around and talk to me?” Daddy asks. “I promise to listen.”
I turn my head slightly to look at him.
“Promise.” He smiles. “You can tell me what got you so mad last night, and we can talk it through.”
Before I can say anything, Daddy picks me up and carefully pulls me out of the kennel, holding me close as he walks over to the couch.
“After we talk, you can have a bottle,” he tells me.
Right then, my stomach grumbles ferociously, and my cheeks start turning red. I’ve gotten so used to him feeding me on a schedule that any deviation shows that I am hungry.
Daddy chuckles and runs his hands through my hair. “We’ll talk first, and then I’ll feed you. I don’t want to risk you getting tired after eating and not being able to talk. This is important, and it has to come first.”
I push my bottom lip out as I stare at him. Yet again, he is showing just how much he cares for me.
Why do I keep doubting him?
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to muster up the courage to tell him I don’t like the nickname. But I can’t bring myself to do it. Every single time we have, we get into an argument, and I don’t want that right now. Especially not when I’m on his lap, and there really isn’t any way for me to escape.
“I want you to talk freely but respectfully. I will listen to you,” he gently says. “Don’t be afraid to say something to me. Just say it respectfully, and we will be okay.”
Right. I can do that, can’t I?
“I’m all ears. Just tell me what you want to tell me.” He leans back on the couch, his hands still underneath my bottom to make sure I don’t fall.
Even when he looks so relaxed, he still tries to make sure I am safe.
