Emi blinked awake, stretching her little legs as she stirred from a cozy nap in her fleece nest. As she shook off the last bit of sleep, she noticed Silas already sitting nearby, watching her with a grin.
"Morning, sleepyhead," he greeted, chuckling. "I already put your breakfast out. Thought you'd want it when you were ready."
She glanced over to see her food dish waiting for her: a sliver of apple, a blueberry, and a tiny piece of cooked chicken—her favorite combo. She wasted no time waddling over to her meal and sniffing at each item with approval before nibbling on the apple.
Silas watched, a smile playing on his lips. "There we go. Best way to start the day—good breakfast and good company."
Once she'd finished, he opened the top of her enclosure, reaching in with careful hands. "Alright, Bluey. Ready for today's adventure?"
He gently lifted her out, and Emi settled comfortably in his hands as he carried her to his desk. She'd grown used to her daily "playtime," but today, something new caught her attention. Silas had set up a hamster ball for her to try out. She tilted her head, intrigued but cautious.
"Alright, Bluey," he said, lowering her into the ball, "let's see what you think of this."
After a tentative wobble, Emi realized she could control the ball's movement with her steps. She took a few cautious steps forward, and to her surprise, the ball rolled along the desk.
Silas's face lit up with delight. "Look at you! You're a natural," he laughed, watching her closely as she gained speed.
Encouraged, Emi picked up her pace, maneuvering the ball around his various notebooks, scattered pens, and a few stacks of sheet music. She found herself enjoying the little workout, and judging by Silas's expression, he was thoroughly entertained.
After a minute, he pulled out his phone, grinning. "You're too cute to keep to myself. Let's get a little video for everyone to see."
He began recording, speaking softly as he followed her movements with the camera. "Everyone, meet Bluey, my workout partner," he said with a chuckle. "She's already got more energy than me."
Emi continued her playful exploration, glancing up at him occasionally, feeling a little bashful yet amused by his enthusiasm.
Once he finished recording, he added a caption and posted it on his SNS: Meet Bluey, my little roommate. Best workout partner I could ask for! 🦔💙
He lowered his phone and grinned down at her. "I think they're gonna love you, Bluey."
A few moments later, his phone buzzed with notifications, and he laughed, scrolling through the comments. He read some aloud for her, clearly entertained.
"Oh, look," he said with a laugh. "'I didn't know you were a hedgehog dad now!' And here's one—'Bluey is the cutest workout partner ever!'"
Emi tilted her head, a bit mystified but secretly pleased at the thought of people finding her antics amusing. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, but Silas's delight made it worth playing along.
When she started slowing down, he gently lifted her out of the hamster ball. "Alright, superstar. Let's give you a break."
Instead of putting her back in her enclosure, he placed her on his desk, right beside a notebook filled with lyrics and song ideas. He leaned back in his chair, stretching before flipping open to a fresh page.
"I guess it's my turn to get to work," he murmured, pulling a pen from behind his ear. Emi watched him curiously, settling down near the notebook as he started jotting down words, humming quietly to himself.
He seemed focused, his expression softening as he became absorbed in his work. Occasionally, he'd stop to play with a line, tapping his pen against the desk or murmuring a tune under his breath. Emi couldn't help but watch with interest, fascinated by his process.
Silas glanced over at her, smiling. "Not boring you, am I?" he asked, giving her a gentle scratch behind her ears.
Emi gave him an approving blink, as if to say, I don't mind at all.
Encouraged, he returned to his lyrics, humming a quiet melody as he scribbled down a few lines. Every now and then, he'd pause, his eyes narrowing as he thought over a phrase, testing the words as if feeling them out.
"You know, Bluey," he said after a while, his voice barely above a whisper, "there's something about writing with you here that makes it easier. Like… I don't feel as stuck."
Emi didn't quite understand what he meant, but she liked the sound of his soft, thoughtful tone. He was opening up to her in a way that felt comfortable, natural, as if her presence was enough to ease whatever worries he carried.
Silas set his pen down, strumming his fingers against the desk as he hummed the new melody. The tune was soft and warm, a little wistful but somehow comforting. Emi found herself relaxing to the gentle rhythm, her eyes half-closing as she listened.
After a few minutes, he looked back at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What do you think, Bluey? Got the makings of a hit?"
Emi gave a little squeak, which he took as a nod of approval.
"Glad to know you like it," he said, laughing softly. "Guess I'll have to credit you for the inspiration."
She watched him return to his notebook, still feeling the warmth of his smile. There was something about these quiet moments with Silas—these snippets of his life he shared with her—that made her feel at home. She might be just a hedgehog, but he made her feel seen, as if her presence truly mattered.
After a while, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh, setting his pen down. "Alright, that's enough for today," he murmured, glancing over at her with a fond look. "Thanks for keeping me company, Bluey. You're my secret weapon."
He reached over, giving her one last gentle scratch, before carefully lifting her and carrying her back to her enclosure. Emi settled into her bedding, watching as he gave her a small wave before returning to his desk, humming the melody he'd been working on.
With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with her cozy fleece nest. Being "Bluey" wasn't so bad, especially when it meant sharing moments like these with Silas.
And in that quiet room, with the faint hum of his melody lingering in the air, she felt more at home than ever.