“Bye,” I said quietly, but I realised that I couldn’t see anything resembling ears on the sides of its head. There were raised patterns over its skin, but no protrusions or holes. It had watched me closely as I spoke, and I saw its small mouth purse as though it was trying to mimic what mine had done as I said the word. I jumped a little when it raised a hand, but all it did was press it to the glass in front of me. Hesitantly, I did the same. I could have sworn that for a split-second, I saw its three fingers morph into five, like mine, its skin shifting to match my tone before it dropped its
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