Chapter 5 • A Little Companion•

The Sunday sun broke through the clouds as Maddie zipped up her jacket and stepped outside. The crisp autumn air was a welcome change from the stale silence of her apartment.

She had no particular destination, just a need to get out and clear her head.

As she strolled through the park, she noticed the world around her—children laughing, couples walking hand in hand, a man tossing a stick for his dog.

It all felt so vibrant, so full of life, and yet she couldn’t shake the emptiness that seemed to cling to her.

She was about to head back when a faint sound stopped her in her tracks. A soft, pitiful meow came from a nearby bush. Frowning, Maddie crouched down and gently pushed the branches aside.

There, huddled and shivering, was a small black cat with white-tipped paws. Its fur was matted, and it looked up at her with wide, fearful eyes.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Maddie whispered, her heart squeezing. She hesitated for only a moment before carefully reaching out. The cat flinched but didn’t run.

Maddie scooped it up, cradling it against her chest. Its tiny body trembled in her arms.

Without a second thought, she started walking toward the nearest vet clinic she remembered passing by on her way to work.

An hour later, Maddie sat in the clinic’s waiting room, the cat nestled in a soft towel provided by the receptionist. The vet had examined it, administered vaccines, and assured her that, apart from being underweight and a bit dehydrated, it would recover with some care.

Maddie stroked its head gently as it nuzzled into the towel. “What am I going to do with you?” she murmured. The cat blinked up at her, its eyes drowsy but trusting.

By the time she left the clinic, Maddie had purchased a small carrier, some food, and a litter box. Back at home, she set everything up and watched as the cat hesitantly explored its new surroundings.

“Guess it’s just you and me now,” she said, sitting cross-legged on the floor as the cat sniffed around the living room. She’d decided to call it Socks, inspired by its snowy white paws.

The hours passed quickly as she cared for her new companion. Socks was timid but curious, and Maddie found herself smiling more than she had in weeks.

Later that evening, as she sat on the couch with Socks curled up beside her, her phone buzzed. It was Mark.

Mark: Hope you had a good day. How’s the weekend going?

Maddie glanced at Socks, who was purring softly in her lap, and snapped a quick photo. She sent it to Mark with a short message.

Maddie: I found this little guy today. Isn’t he sweet?

The reply came minutes later.

Mark: A cat? Seriously? You know I hate animals, Maddie.

Her heart sank. The warmth she’d felt all day evaporated as she read the words. But then she glanced down at Socks, who stretched lazily, completely unbothered by the world.

For the first time, Maddie didn’t feel the need to apologize or explain herself. Instead, she set the phone aside, running her fingers through Socks’s fur as a quiet realization began to form.

She wasn’t as alone as she thought.

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