Sal's POV

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New night, new me.

Sal climbed down the tree. Determination was beaming out of his eyes.

-Today, I won't mess up.-

-I won't call Rosa creepy or anything!-

-I'll talk about normal subjects, about normal things that make a normal conversation, not something that I did yesterday.-

Sal's face felt sour. His face cramped up from remembering the embarrassing moment yesterday.

But that didn't stop his pacing.

One claw over the other.

One foot over the other.

The sun's slow descent began. Even though the sun was still shining its brilliant light, making the shadows long and lanky, taller than anything else, a height some short people would exchange their souls for, the rainforest descended into a calm peace.

Like a deep lake, there were no ripples. Just the still water, deep color of lapis lazuli blue.

The chirps of the crickets and occasional distant animal sounds became a serene ambiance to listen to, the perfect soundtrack that made the eyelids heavy and made the head nod back and forth rhythmically, the drowsiness set in deeply like heavy rain on the parched, cracked earth.

-BUT WHAT DO I SAY?-

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Sal's mind was buzzing. No ambiance or sounds could make Sal's eyelids heavy. He was wide awake, despite the lack of sleep he was running on.

-I can't just talk about a lame topic. I need to seem more interesting, more friendly, and more approachable. I can't talk about something like… The weather!-

-Should I talk about food? Sleep? But now I sound so bland. All I do is eat and sleep?-

-I'm not just that! I also…um…have a fun…um…I have a life, so I have some unique things about me-

…

Sal stopped in his tracks.

Sal realized something.

-I don't have a life.-

-My day is a monotonous cycle of eating, sleeping, and climbing.-

-I live alone-

-I don't have friends.-

-I don't know about gossip.-

-I don't have drama.-

-I simply live a day in the same tree, same rainforest, same place every day-

-I really don't have a life.-

-I'm really no different than a rock. Forever stuck in one place.-

He lowered his head. Sal clenched the bark tightly, his thick neck seemed to lose all strength and turned into a marshmallow, and with his head lacking support, his head sunk farther and farther down.

"Hello, is anyone here? Sal?"

-Huh?-

Sal jerked his head suddenly to the direction of the noise to see a little blob of colors perched upon a large leaf a couple of branches down, calling his name out.

-I took so long sulking that it's this late?-

Raising his head, Sal looked to see the sun long gone, the moon was winking down at him instead, the light flitting through the foliage above.

"I'm- I'm coming!"

Hurriedly climbing down, Sal fumbled down, his face twisted into shame.

-I can't believe I made Rosa wait, especially since I even left early just so I could be early.-

-I'm so clumsy!-

Sliding down, the bark ruffling his fur up into a knotted mess, Sal quickly spoke to Rosa.

"I'm really sorry I'm late. I had a little problem so I couldn't be on time."

"No, it's fine. Look, aren't you here right now?"

Rosa responded, her face melted into a warm smile.

Scratching his head, Sal profusely thanked Rosa. Her contagious, warm smile spread to Sal as he bloomed into a grin.

"Ah, um, so-" Sal pepped, trying to start the conversation, but he felt the regret creeping into his heart, making him feel suffocated.

-I don't know what to say!-

Sal struggled to find a topic, his claws squeezed the tree, and the bark started to crunch under the pressure.

"Um… How's the weather?"