The cat stretched before circling her legs, sitting under them.
“Oooh no. No, no no.” Sorcha muttered pushing herself up. “I’m leaving. You can go back to sleep now.” She slowly began to retreat backwards. “You just… stay right there, alright? Good kitty, stay here.”
The cat didn’t move; it only watched her retreat with the same amused glint in its eyes. But no sooner had she turned, she heard the soft pitter patter of paws.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she groaned, walking faster.
The cat didn’t care, it followed her like a shadow.
Sorcha tripped over a root, landing hard in the meadow with a thud. She grumbled, only for the cat to leap into her lap and curl up.
“No. No. you can’t come with me. I don’t have pets for a reason,” she insisted, trying to push the animal off but it dug in stubbornly.
“Go home and not with me,” she pleaded.
She struggled to push the cat off her and stand up, only to have the cat trip her, again, and again and again.
She sat in the meadow and admitted defeat as the cat jumped into her lap once more.
“You know, you really are something,” she groaned. “If you come with me I can’t promise I’ll remember to feed you or give you water, and so help me, if you poop in my house, I’ll throw you into the fountain. Got it?”
She narrowed her eyes at the cat, who, to her shock, gave her a nod.
Sorcha froze. “I must be losing my mind. I’m talking to a cat.” She stood and began walking again, the cat beside her, its silver eyes glinting in the moonlight.
As Sorcha opened the door to her home, she turned to the cat.
“This is home,” she announced.
Before she could fully swing the door open, the cat sauntered in, promptly making itself comfortable in the chair by the fire. Rolling her eyes, Sorcha stepped inside, closed the door behind her, and fixed her gaze on the cat.
“Sure, make yourself at home,” she told the cat as she put the kettle on, planning to bathe after her adventure in the woods.
The cat had certainly taken her mind off things for a bit, and it was nice to not feel so alone for a change.
Sorcha eased into the crystal tub, the warm water like a comforting embrace. Just as she began to let her tensions melt away, a distinct meow pierced the tranquility. Opening her eyes, she saw the cat stationed on the washroom floor, its gaze fixed intently on her.
The cat remained perfectly still, except for a slow, thoughtful swish of its tail. Sorcha couldn’t resist a smile.
“What is it now?” she asked. In response, the cat tilted its head, giving her a look that seemed suspiciously like a nod.
“Can you actually understand me?” Sorcha asked, with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. The cat blinked slowly, then, unmistakably, nodded once more.
Sorcha let out a soft laugh, the sound echoing slightly off the walls.
“Well, that’s settled then. This is probably one of the least odd of things that’s happened to me.” She settled back against the cool surface of the tub. The cat’s eyes never wavered from her. She felt an unusual sense of security.
A few moments later, Sorcha emerged from the tub, with the cat trailing behind as she made her way to the kitchen, where the kettle was whistling. She made herself a cup of tea. With tea in hand, and the cat still following, she settled into her chair by the fire and sighed deeply. As shedid, the cat sat in front of her, watching her intently. Sorcha looked down at the cat, and it tilted its head toward her lap.
“Are you asking if you can come up?” The cat nodded.
“Alright, come on up.”
With that, the cat jumped into her lap and circled a few times before curling up. As she sat there, the things she had been trying to forget slowly began to creep back, making her heart race unevenly, heavy with sorrow. The cat seemed to notice and started purring on her lap, its gaze locked on hers. It sat up and nuzzled its face against hers. Sorcha took a deep breath as tears streamed down her face.
The cat didn’t move but kept itself there, nestled against her as she hugged the animal. Her eyes grew heavy, and she slowly drifted off to sleep with the cat on her lap. That night, no nightmares plagued her, and for the first time in a long time, she slept deeply.
Chapter 34
