Hey love, listen upIve got to tell you whats been happening with Ian and Emma.
—
Emma, are you home? Ian burst into the flat, froze the moment he saw her standing in the hallway. She was huddled on the sofa, sniffling loudly.
I didnt catch a word of whats going on, love. You were bawling so hard I couldnt make out any sentences. And then, as if the universe were mocking us, the phone died. Whats happened, Emma? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Morries gone Emma whispered, barely audible. Hes not at home.
How? Ian demanded, his face tightening. Where could he have vanished to? Did he hide somewhere in the flat?
No. Your sister Lucy she said Morrie darted out into the hallway when she and Mike went for a walk. But you know Morrie, Ianhed never bolt out on his own. Why would he risk the street, especially when he almost froze to death out there? I think Lucy let him out on purpose
What?! Ian clenched his fists. Where is she now? Lucy?
She supposedly went to the shop I dont know. Ive been looking for Morrie all afternoon, but theres no sign of him anywhere. No ones seen him nearby. How could this be, Ian? Could a person really be that crueltoss a helpless cat onto a winter street? Its unthinkable.
Peopleno. Lucyyes. Shes done similar things before. Dont worry, once shes out of our flat she wont be back. Honestly, why did we even let her stay?
—
A month earlier
Ian was heading toward the bus stop when something grey caught his eye beneath a layer of snow.
At first he thought it was just a stone, but the stone was shaking like an old, rattling fridge. That odd tremor made him stophed never seen, let alone heard, a rock shiver from the cold.
Curiosity got the better of him, so he stepped off the pavement and got closer. Thats when he realized it wasnt a stone at all, but a tiny grey kitten.
What a surprise, Ian muttered, scratching his head. What are you doing here, little one?
He didnt really need to ask; anyone could guess why a stray kitten would be out in the bitter coldjust trying to survive. The kitten didnt meow for help; it simply lay there, shivering, as if itd given up on anyone caring.
Ian gently scooped the tiny creature up, brushed the snow from its fur, slipped it under his jacket, and hustled back to the bus stop just as the trolley was pulling in.
On the ride home, he remembered Emma had been talking about getting a grey, striped kitten for ages, but they never found the time to visit the shelter. Fate, it seemed, had dropped one right at his feet. When the universe hands you something, you take it.
Emma, Ive got a surprise for you, Ian announced cheerily as he stepped into the flat.
Oh, youre spoiling me again, Emma laughed, popping into the hallway. Gold earrings, a new phone, tickets to the cinema Whats the surprise this time? A holiday to the Alps?
Better! Ian beamed, unzipping his coat and pulling the kitten out. Look, I found this little grey stripy thing outside. Isnt this exactly what you wanted?
Good heavens, Emma gasped, eyes widening as she cradled the shivering furball. Hes frozen solid! Put him in, Ill warm him up. And youstrip off, wash your hands, head to the kitchen. Dinners ready.
Emma gazed at the kitten, smiling. Hes adorable
Thus Morrie joined Ian and Emmas life. They tossed around a bunch of names before settling on the classic Morrieit felt more fitting than Tom or Lucas.
The happy moment happened in late November, right as the first snow fell, so Morrie never got a proper apprenticeship in the harsh winter streets.
Thank heavens for that, because for many cats that first winter can be a matter of life or death.
In the two weeks that followed, Emma and Ian fell headoverheels for Morrie. Actually, theyd love him from day one, and each new day only made their affection grow stronger.
Morrie, for his part, seemed to adore his new humans toono one ever scolded him when he knocked a remote off the dresser; they just asked him to be a bit more careful. Ill be! hed meow back, leaping onto the chest of drawers ten times a day and occasionally sending the TV remote tumbling down.
Everything was rosy until one Sunday morning a knock echoed at the door.
Who could be ringing at this hour? Ian rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clockit was half past six, and it was still dark outside.
Maybe the neighbours? Emma suggested. Hope everythings alright with them.
Ill go check.
When Ian opened the front door, his sister Lucy stood there, not alone but with her little son Mickey, who looked about five.
Hey, bro, Lucy grinned. Were dropping by. You dont mind, do you?
Actually
I know, I knowjust a headsup. I didnt get a chance to call, and at this hour you probably werent answering. Can you let us in? And could you give me a hand with the suitcase? Ive been dragging it up to the fourth floor and my legs are killing me.
Ian let them in, though the sight of a suitcase made him a tad uneasyvisitors rarely show up with luggage.
Whats happened? he asked.
Nothings obvious, Lucy replied with a shrug. The husband threw me out. Found some other woman, can you imagine? So Im stuck. If its okay, Ill crash here for a while until I sort something out. We could even ring in the New Year togetherwouldnt that be grand? We havent seen each other properly in four years.
Lucy, you know why we fell out You cant build a proper relationship on lies.
Come on, stop with the drama. Whos going to remember old grudges? Everyone makes mistakes.
Ian wanted to retort, but he swallowed it. He didnt want to start the morning with a fight, and he knew Emma wouldnt approve of him picking a fight with Lucy, whod just been kicked out by her husband.
The backstory: five years ago their parents had passed, leaving a threebedroom flat in the city that was set to be inherited by both Ian and Lucy. Lucy, pregnant at the time (the father unknown), begged Ian to give up his share, arguing she needed a home more than a single man did. Ian, then living in a student hall, handed over his claim, assuming hed find his own place later.
When Lucys baby arrived, she sold the flat and moved in with a new boyfriend named Val. Val runs a business and needs cash for expansion, she told Ian. Its my flat, Im doing what I think is right. Ian was furioushed expected at least half the money back, but the cash vanished into the business.
Their mother stayed out of it, saying the adults would sort themselves out. Ten years earlier, when they were kids, Ian had once picked up a stray kitten on his way home and later that same kitten disappearedLucy was the only one who could have been involved, and Ian never brought any more cats home after that.
So Ians relationship with Lucy was already shaky.
Back to the present: Lucy, now staying with them, started complaining about Morrie. Hed be on the sofa, on her bed, looked at her oddly. Then Mickey caught a cold.
This is definitely an allergy to your cat, Lucy told Ian. My little Mickey used to be as fit as a fiddle.
Maybe he just caught a cold, Ian countered. You take him out for walks, right? Even if its an allergy, what are you proposing? Morries part of our family.
Right, right, family member Lucy scoffed. I thought youd outgrown the kittencollecting phase. How does Emma still put up with you?
Emma loves animals as much as I do. You, on the other hand, seem to hate them. What have they ever done to you?
Theyre a nuisance. I cant sleep because of that cat. My son cant either. When you have your own kids youll understand.
Ian fell silent. Children were a sore spotEmma and hed been trying for years with no luck, doctors couldnt pinpoint anything, and Lucy knew all about it.
I think we should rehome the cat, Lucy said. Mickey is my nephew, Im your sister, and we cant keep fighting over a pet. Its just an animal, after all.
What are you talking about? A shelter? Morrie lives with us, not with you. If you dont like him, youre not welcome here. Find somewhere else to live and get out.
He didnt say it out loud, but he thought, Maybe I should give the kid to a shelter instead. He kept his mouth shut, knowing it would only spark a bigger blowup.
Lucy pretended to calm down but kept shoving Morrie off the sofa, driving him into the far corner so hed never be seen. Morrie endured, then started his own little revengeknocking Lucys phone off the nightstand, snagging her favourite sweater.
Your cat is ruining my stuff! Lucy shrieked. Why even have a pet if you cant teach it proper manners? My Mickey never does that.
She even swiped Morries favourite soft toy and hid it in her suitcase.
Thats it, Ian snapped. Remember, Lucy, youre staying in my flat. If you want to stay, keep your hands off my cat.
Alright, alright, no need to get hotheaded
On the night before New Years, Emma called Ian, sobbing, trying to explain something serious. He couldnt make sense of it, so he left work early and drove home.
He burst into the flat, froze when he saw Emma in the hallway, still crying. I didnt understand a thing, he said. You were wailing so I couldnt hear. Then the phone died. What happened, Emma? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Morries vanished she whispered. Hes not at home.
How could he disappear? Ian asked, panic rising. Did he hide somewhere?
No. Lucy she told me he ran out into the hallway when she and Mike went for a walk. But you know our Morriehe wouldnt run out on his own. It feels like she let him out on purpose
What?! Ians fists tightened. Where is she? Wheres Lucy?
Apparently she went to the shop Ive been looking everywhere for Morrie, but hes nowhere. No ones seen him. How could that happen, Ian? Could someone really be that cruelthrow a defenseless cat out into the cold winter?
Peopleno. Lucyyes. Shes done this before. Dont worry, she wont be back in our flat. Ill find Morrie.
He never did find Morrie that day. Night fell, and the cat could have hidden anywhere.
The next morning Lucy arrived with Mickey, and Ian gave her a proper grilling.
Why did you do it?! he roared. Why did you fling the cat onto the street? You know he almost froze!
I didnt do anything, brother, Lucy shrugged. I just opened the door and he bolted. I didnt chase after him. My child comes first, not some stray cat.
Ian looked her straight in the eyes and saw she was lying, even smirking. He knew Lucy had done it on purpose.
Tomorrows New Years Eve, Lucy said, trying to smooth things over. I bought some champagne. Lets not fight over this, okay?
Fine, Ian sighed. Pack your bags.
What? You cant hear?
Pack your things or Ill throw them out the window. And go!
Ian drove Lucy and Mickey to the station, handed them a few pounds for tickets, and said, You can go to your husband, your mum, even spend the night at the station I dont care. But dont ever show up here again. And Im sorry for your sons mum.
That evening, their mother called, accusing Ian of being coldhearted.
Lucy came to you like a close family member, and you drove her out with a child. How can you live with that, son?
Ian thought shed make something up; he wasnt going to talk to her again.
On 31 December, sitting at the festive table, Emma and Ian werent thrilled about the approaching New Year. There were ten minutes left until the clock struck midnight, and the champagne was still unopened. It made sensehow could you celebrate when your beloved cat was missing?
Theyd been searching for Morrie all morning, to no avail. It was as if hed vanished into thin air.
Ian, do you hear that? Emma asked anxiously. Someones rattling at the door.
Might be Lucy again Ian muttered, getting up.
When he opened the door, there stood Morrie, shivering but alive. Hed somehow survived the freezing night and found his way back.
Emma! Hes back! Hes home! Ian cried, scooping the cat into his arms.
They warmed Morrie up, fed him, and Emma clutched him tight, not letting go for a second.
Morrie purred contentedly, as if saying, I made it. Im back where Im loved.
Ian, a minute before the New Year, Emma whispered. Will you pop the champagne?
Of course!
Ian cracked the bottle, poured the sparkling wine into glasses, and outside the fireworks burst, accompanied by cheers from the neighbours.
They say the way you greet the New Year sets the tone for the whole year.
So now Morrie will always be with his human familyand, unknowingly, with the new life budding in Emmas heart.
Give it a like, leave a comment, and enjoy!
Leave a Reply