When Shadow and Rocky got home from their therapy sessions, they each went their separate ways. Rocky headed to the kitchen scouting for food. Shadow went to her bedroom and lay on her bed.

The ropes were being tied tight around her paws, and a feather was rubbed against her paws and her belly. Shadow looked up, and she saw her mother blankly staring at her telling her she was a bad kitten and should never have been born. Shadow began to cry. She had done nothing wrong. And then her mother pulled out a piece of broken glass and deliberately cut Shadow’s paw. “Bad kitty, bad kitty, her mother said. Shadow screamed-meowed from the pain. Her heart was beating and she was sweating. She felt fear to down to her paws. “Meow, Meow, screamed Shadow. Awakened, fighting for air, she woke up from the nightmare.

Thom heard Shadow’s screams and ran into Shadow’s room. “What’s wrong, Shadow my baby girl, said Thom as he sat on the edge of her bed. “I was having dreams about my mother again,” meowed-cried Shadow. “You’re safe now. I will protect. No one will ever hurt you again,” said Thom as he stroked Shadow’s fur. Against her own self-will, she began to purr…

Rocky stepped inside Dr. Hardnose’s office with a chip on his shoulder. He did not want to be there and did not want to look at his over eating. “Good morning, Rocky. I sense you are not happy you are here. Can you tell me about that?” said Dr. Hardnose. Your assumption about me not wanting to be here is correct. I see nothing wrong with my eating. My sister is insisting I go to therapy. I don’t need it. She needs it not me,” said Rocky. “Why do you say that, Rocky?” Dr. Hardnose said. “Our mother didn’t treat her the same as me. She ignored Shadow and didn’t let her eat most of the time. It was like our mother wanted her dead,” said Rocky choking up a bit. “How does this make you feel, Rocky?” said Dr. Hardnose. “I don’t understand why our mother did that to her. I was always afraid I would be next. She obviously did not care whether Shadow lived or die. Shadow sprayed me with a water bottle last week. It made me feel like she must have felt when our mother sprayed her with water. It made me very scared. She apologized for spaying me with water and said she would never do that again. I can’t imagine what having water squirted at her every feeding must have felt like. She has to be pretty messed up from the behavior displayed toward her,” said Rocky. “And you don’t think that impacted you?” said Dr. Hardnose. “I guess it did. I”m always on edge when I eat. I’m afraid it will be taken away constantly. Although, I know my new owner, Thom would never do that to me. It’s still in the back of my mind. “Do you think that is why you over eat?” “Our time is up doctor. I need to go meet Shadow, She is my ride home,”said Rocky in an attempt to avoid answering the question…

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