fallen1carus

I am part of a small group that saves animals. I am keeping two animals in my home because of this work, and have become very attached to them.

I am away from my apartment quite a bit. I have specific places in the apartment to keep the animals safe from danger while I am away. One of the animals is a rat, and I keep him in a bird cage on a string hanging from the ceiling. I dont want him to be near the floor without me there, because something could get him. My apartment is dark and run down. It doesnt feel safe.

I come home after being gone a few days and the first thing I do is take his cage down. It has been raining and the water came through the ceiling into his cage. I feel awful because my spot meant for keeping him safe has instead exposed him to constant water flow in the cage. I open the cage up and hold him in my hand. And I stare at his belly. A patch of hair is missing and the skin there is paper thin. Near the thinnest spots, it has torn, and I can see inside of him.

He barely moves. He is going to die. I can see the pulsing of his organs as blood pumps through his small body.

I dont know what to do. Im frantic. I feel scared and guilty. Theres no way I could properly stitch him up, but something needs to be done, now. Could I tape the holes? Would that work?

But its too late.

The holes are getting bigger. I see the cause-- his ribcage growing wider. Ribs begin to come out from his skin. The holes get wider and I can see more and more inside of him. I am helpless, holding him in my palm. His ribs keep growing. They are pulling him apart. Its awful, and theres nothing I can do.

Then I wake up.