My heart pounded as I did my best to run towards the noise I heard, but it was more of a limping hobble than anything. That noise had destroyed my funk, as it truly sounded like whatever made it was in trouble. It sounded like an animal, and there was a part of me that couldn't stand by and let something happen, especially given that noise.
My parents had a dog growing up, and he was one of the best friends I'd ever had. There was no judgement from him, no talking behind your back, no breaking trust. Just unconditional love from my friend, and I gave him the same back. He was the only one there for me at one point, as my mom had eventually become too scared to even talk to me once my bad got really bad. He never hit me or my mom when I lived there, but she had made it pretty clear that, that wasn't the case anymore. All I wanted to do was help her...
The screeching was louder now, right around the corner in an alley way. I turned the corner, and found 3 wild dogs snarling and biting at something that was hiding behind a cardboard box and a trash can in the corner of the alley. I moved closer, and my heart actually stopped when I saw small fluffy white cat cowering behind the box, and I don't know how I knew, but its eyes were filled with terror, and I swore I saw tears in its eyes. That couldn't be possible.
Still, I saw the cat look at me, and its eyes widened even more, looking almost more fearful of me than it did the dogs. It was so cute, and looked so helpless... I had to help.
"HEY! BACK THE FUCK OFF!" I shouted, picking up a nearby trashcan and flinging it between the dogs.
They jumped, and startled, and turned back to look at me. I wasn't sure what it was, but I could almost feel my own rage being directed out of me, as the dogs began to whimper and shake. Then, as one, all 3 turned left, and darted down a separate alley. I was afraid that the cat would run away too, but it seemed too afraid to even move. I slowly made my way towards it, and once I reached the corner, I grunted as I got down on my knees. The cat hissed at me just then, but it was honestly too adorable to make me flinch.
"Shh. I know. That must have been scary. I'm not going to hurt you." I said as softly as I could, but the cat was still hissing and screeching at me.
I reached out a hand slowly towards it. It began to try and back up even more, even though there was a wall behind it. It looked so scared, and something in the way it looked at me hurt me deep in my chest.
"You're cute, aren't you? Come on, I promise I just want to help."
The cat wasn't a super large, but it was bigger than a kitten. It had incredibly dense and fluffy fur, with an equally furry tail. Green cat eyes stared at me in fear, and I couldn't help but see something in them that felt different. They were cat eyes yes, but it felt like it was more aware, and more intelligent than any other cat I've ever met. The ears were cute as well, incredibly fluffy and with tufts of fur sticking out of them, and from the tips.
"I've never seen a cat like you before. Very pretty." I said, and that actually made the cat pause, making me blink, "Did you understand me?"
My hand was mere inches away from it now, and it bit me. It made me flinch a bit, but I did not back away. Pain like this was nothing compared to what I felt on a daily basis. I used my other hand, and brought it closer as well. The cat began scratching my arm, digging its claws in deep, drawing a healthy amount of blood from me. It wasn't its fault. It was just scared.
I brought my hand to its head, and it flinched, trying to draw back. I began to gently rub its head, running my hands through its thick fur. I moved to scratching the side of its face, and the cat's attacks on me lessened. I just smiled as it looked at me with its big slitted eyes.
"I know you must be scared. I won't hurt you. I wouldn't even think it. I just want to help you, so, will you let me?" I asked, and the cat's eyes began shimmering as it let go of my arm completely.
It's claws retracted, and it stopped bearing its teeth at me. I looked at my arm and chuckled. I looked like I just stuck my arm in a box full of needles and knives or something.
"You really did a number on me." I said, and the cat actually had a guilty look in its eyes as it stared at the wounds it gave me.
"It's not a big deal. I've had worse. Now... can I please help you, little one." I asked, holding out my hand to it.
It hesitated, but not for as long as I thought it would. I slowly walked forward, sniffing at the air, before sniffing me. I pet its head again, and it closed its eyes and leaned into my hand as I rubbed its cheeks and under its chin. It truly was an adorable cat. I reached under it, and slowly began to lift it. It protested for a moment, but once I held it to my chest and began petting it softly from head to the base of its tail, it relaxed, and began to let out soft, content purrs.
"I forgot what something like this was like." I said, smiling at the cat in my arms.
I slowly stood, my legs shaking, but I persevered, standing straight. I looked down at the bundle of cute fur in my arms, at how it was now vs only moments before, and a strange sense of peace came over me.
"Would you like to be my friend?" I asked, and just as I suspected, the cat looked at me, its eyes slightly wide, "So, you can understand me, can't you?"
This cat fucking nodded at me, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Wow. Well, that's something that doesn't happen everyday." I said, shaking my head at the absurdity of it, but to hell with it. Life was full of mysteries, just like the illness that plagued me. A cat that could understand me? Why not?
I held the cat up to my face, so I could look it in the eyes. I smiled at it.
"I don't have any friends left... or any family that cares about me. I'm not sure what the chances are that this happened, but I'd love to take you home, and take care of you with the time I have left. So, will be my friend?"
The cat's eyes stared at me like it couldn't believe what I was saying, and then they shimmered, and actually began to water. Okay, so this was not an ordinary cat, but it seemed nice enough. Just scared and afraid. Then, it licked my nose, and then rubbed its face along mine. I would say that I didn't tear up, but I'd be a liar. I held the cat to my chest.
"Great... thank you." I said, my throat tight, "Come on then, lets go home. I'm sure you're hungry."
The cat perked up at those words, and it made me laugh. I dried my eyes with my sleeve, held my new furry friend close to my chest, and headed on home. It wasn't much, and I wasn't sure how long I had left, but at least I wouldn't have to spend my last days alone. The cat purred in my arms, rubbing its head against my chest, as we both headed home.