Louise — now that I’ve read your mouse story, I think you’re being too harsh on your protagonist, you as writer and the story itself. What I thought was really clever about the story is that it’s not at all clear at the end whether Cleo’s story is in fact true, or whether it’s actually Jill who is gaslighting Cleo into either (1) not believing her own story, or (2) bullying Cleo into making up a story that makes her feel uncomfortable. I’ll have to think about that a little deeper, but I don’t necessary think that Cleo is an unlikeable character — more a potentially damaged one, doing what she needs to survive. Which, to me, makes her an interesting character. But then again, I’ve often veered towards the side of darkness!