Frisco, TX—Mizu, a local shorthair, sits in the corner with her head drooped while ruminating over the discovery that the red dot she has chased so many times was actually being cast by her owner holding a laser pointer.

The discovery came earlier in the day when she was going absolutely bonkers chasing the red dot across the floor. When she got close to it, the dot jumped onto the couch where her human was sitting, and as she prepared to pounce, she noticed her human holding the laser pointer. When the laser pointer moved, the dot moved. After a few moments, Mizu made the horrible connection in her mind, and she staggered away from the couch, crestfallen.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I mean, I knew laser pointers existed, but I always thought the red dot was something else. Something wild. But it was just the light from a laser pointer after all.”

Mizu spent the rest of the day morose, refusing to chase the dot or respond to any other stimuli. She says that while she knows the truth now, she’ll try to make the best of it.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ll still chase it. I still get a little bit of that kick, you know, that urge. But it’s not the same. It’s just a game of pretend now.”

She has decided against telling her brother, Kaze, as he has not yet made the discovery himself. Mizu just hopes that she can navigate this new perspective and still maintain her zest for life.

“I am sad. But in a way, it’s better that I know. It was just a fantasy to believe the red dot had its own volition and could one day be caught. But letting go of the fantasy is really hard.”