Chapter 7 •Small Steps•

The faint sound of rustling woke Maddie from a light sleep. She blinked groggily, her eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through her curtains. Socks perched on her chest, his tiny nose twitching as he studied her face.

“Morning, Socks,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. Socks responded with a soft meow, his white-tipped paws pressing against her blanket.

As she swung her legs over the bed, a familiar rush of anxiety bubbled up. Monday. Work. Pretending everything was fine while her boyfriend, Mark, stayed increasingly distant.

She sighed, glancing back at Socks as he jumped off the bed, his tiny body trailing her to the kitchen.

While her coffee brewed, she set out a bowl of food for him. Watching him eat brought an unexpected calm, a small moment of peace before the chaos of the day began.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her from the moment. She hesitated before picking it up.

Mark: Hope your Monday goes well. Talk soon.

The words felt cold and impersonal. Maddie’s stomach twisted as she locked the phone without replying.

At work, the usual hum of office chatter filled the air. Maddie sat at her desk, trying to focus on her inbox. She’d barely opened her first email when Ethan leaned against the partition, his face lighting up with a grin.

“Morning,” he said. “So, how’s Socks settling in?”

Maddie smiled. “He’s doing well. Woke me up by sitting on my chest like some sort of tiny overlord.”

Ethan laughed, pulling up a chair. “Sounds about right. Cats don’t ask for permission—they take what’s theirs. And Socks seems like the type to claim his throne fast.”

Maddie chuckled, relaxing a little. “He’s already running the place. I replaced my profile picture with his, and I don’t even regret it.”

Ethan raised his eyebrows in mock, seriousness. “Wait, wait. You’re telling me Socks dethroned Mark for the prime spot on your profile? That’s bold.”

Her smile faltered slightly, but she tried to play it off. “Socks earned it. And besides, it’s just a profile picture.”

Ethan tilted his head. “Still,” he said softly, “it’s a good look on you. You seem... lighter.”

The words hit Maddie unexpectedly, and she blinked, unsure how to respond. Before she could gather her thoughts, their manager called for a quick meeting, and Ethan gave her a small wave as he left.

By the time Maddie got home, she was exhausted. Socks greeted her at the door with a cheerful meow, weaving between her legs as she kicked off her shoes.

“Hey, buddy,” she said, scooping him up. His warm, tiny body pressed against her chest, and for a moment, the day’s stress melted away.

She collapsed onto the couch, Socks settling beside her. Her phone buzzed again—Mark.

Mark: Missed you today. Hope your cat isn’t taking all your attention.

Maddie stared at the message, her jaw tightening. Mark’s words had an edge to them, though it was subtle enough to pass as a joke. It felt like he was testing her.

But she didn’t want to play along. Not tonight. She set the phone down without replying, focusing instead on the soft purring at her side.

Maybe she didn’t need to answer every call. Maybe she didn’t need to keep holding on so tightly.

Socks shifted, resting his head on her leg. Maddie smiled, running her fingers through his fur.

For now, this was enough.

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