Then she heard Julia laugh, and in the same moment Julia kept singing. At first, Phoebe thought her ears were tricking her. Then the twin voices harmonized again and she realized what was happening. Walking downstairs to join her roommates, Phoebe’s suspicions were confirmed. Julia and Yuli were singing together. Singing and dancing; Yuli was capering upright like some kind of were-beast with a fanged grin plastered on their face. Their movements were fluid and choppy all at once, stitching in and out of her vision. Julia’s hands were laced tightly and securely in theirs.

“Oh, Phoebe! You should joinnn usss,” Julia sang.

“Phoebe,” Yuli greeted, tilting their elongated muzzle slightly. Their grin didn’t falter while they spun their witch like a skipping record.

Phoebe did not dance. But Julia grabbed her and pulled her over, and then Yuli wrapped a tail around her, and she couldn’t break away even if she’d wanted to. She kept watching Yuli. They had regarded her with the energy of a stray dog up until recently, and definitely not right now. For a moment, swaying and spinning, she felt like she was back inside of Julia’s binding hoop- having her energy read, bearing her feather to Yuli while they bore theirs to her. She still hadn’t brought it up to them. Hadn’t asked what they’d wished for.

After a few songs, the party died down even though the music continued thumping. She was released, Julia went back to wiping down the kitchen counters, and Yuli cleaned the window behind the sink. Phoebe considered doing more laundry but couldn’t convince herself to leave.

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01.22.2025
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Hi, I again want to encourage my US readers who are able to, to donate to local mutual aid organizations, especially those that help groups targeted by the current administration.