Through the Bathroom Window

Amy finished her shift at the hospital, spent another half hour charting and said good-bye to the other nurses. She paused outside her car in the parking lot. She didn’t want to go home. She was too tired to do much else, though. Home it is, she thought.

Walking into the small house always caused her stomach to drop. She left lights on in various places and rooms, but it still seemed so dark. And it was so quiet and empty. When Hugo lived here with her, the house had always seemed so full. It was full of noise, messy, crowded and homey. Hugo was a big man with a loud, deep voice who liked to talk and laugh. Why did he suddenly seem just too much? Too immature, too lazy, just too darn happy. They split up and Hugo left, his heart broken. Amy was alright, she missed him at first but was certain they weren’t right for each other. He liked to drink beer and play video games. She helped save people’s lives. Then after a while she was just lonely.

She got ready for bed and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. There was a nice breeze from the open window and she closed her eyes in pleasure. She leaned down to spit and rinse her brush and when she stood back up again she saw the cat. It was a small black and orange calico with orange eyes and it was sitting on her window ledge. She was afraid to move because she didn’t want to scare the cat.

“You’re a pretty little thing,” Amy said, and backed up slowly. She went to the kitchen, grabbed a bowl and the milk and went back into the bathroom. To her relief, the cat was still there. She sat the bowl on the bathroom counter and poured some milk into it. “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty… try some of this.” Amy stood back and the cat cautiously stepped inside and began to lap up the milk. She couldn’t help but smile. “Finally, some company,” she said softly. She slowly reached out and stroked the soft fur. She was rewarded with a rumbling purr. The cat looked up at her. It looked sweet, young, and it had no collar. Amy reached over and closed the bathroom window.

A few months later, when Amy came home from work she walked into the house and was greeted by a small black and orange cat skidding across the kitchen floor, batting at a fake mouse. Amy noticed her floors were messy once more, but they were littered with cat toys. She smiled as the little cat, named Raven, jumped up on the kitchen counter and began mewing at her. “Oh, someone’s getting loud. Is it dinner time?” she asked and laughed. She poured some food into Raven’s bowl on the floor and the cat jumped down and began crunching her meal.

“We have a guest for dinner tonight, Raven, so be on your best behavior,” Amy said. “I know you haven’t really liked anyone I’ve had over. Yeah, don’t feel bad, I didn’t like them, either. But this guy is different. He’s sweet.” She petted Raven and smiled, “I wonder what Hugo will think of you?”