The sting of resentment flooded the girls heart.
Oliver slowly closed the flat door, sighed heavily, and sank onto the sofa. Inside, he was seething with anger and confusion. Hed just had a blazing row with his girlfriend, and all because of a stray kitten.
The last half-hour had been a whirlwindsharp words thrown back and forth, accusations, desperate attempts to explain himself. It felt like the ground had vanished beneath his feet, leaving nothing but a hollow ache in his chest.
Hed always adored Emily for her gentle nature, her kindness, the way she lit up a room. Theyd been perfect for each other, their conversations effortless, their quirks complementary. But lately, shed become distant, consumed by the care of some scruffy little creature shed scooped off the pavement.
At first, Oliver had brushed it offfine, she had a soft spot for animals, especially the pitiful ones. But then it spiralled. Every conversation revolved around the kittens treatment, its health, its needs. It was as if all the attention shed once given him had been rerouted to this poor, half-blind ball of fluff.
When the argument finally erupted, Oliver laid his cards on the table: the kitten was taking up more space in her life than he was. To him, pouring time and money into a sickly animal was a waste. Why not get a proper, healthy petone that could actually bring them both joy? Why invest so much in a creature that would never live a normal life?
Emily took it badly. She called him heartless, accused him of missing the point entirely. The harder he tried to reason with her, the clearer it becamethey were worlds apart.
It had started on an ordinary morning. Emily heard a tiny, pitiful mewling outside her building. Assuming it was nothing, she nearly ignored itbut something made her glance out the window. And there he was: a shivering little scrap of fur, filthy and frail, his eyes crusted shut.
She rushed down, scooped him up, and took him straight to the vet. The diagnosis wasnt gooda severe eye infection, likely to leave him blind. The treatment would be expensive, the vet warned, with no guarantee of success.
But Emily refused to give up. She spent weeks nursing him, administering eyedrops, cleaning his wounds, even syringe-feeding him when he couldnt eat on his own. By the end of the month, the infection had clearedbut his sight was gone for good. Friends suggested rehoming him, even putting him down. «Why put yourself through this?» they asked.
Emily wouldnt hear of it. Shed saved him once; she wouldnt abandon him now. And so, the kittenchristened Whiskersbecame a permanent fixture in her life.
At first, it was chaotic. Whiskers bumped into furniture, tripped over his own paws. But within weeks, hed mapped out the flat, navigating like a pro. He never missed his litter tray, never faltered in finding his food bowl.
Best of all, he had a knack for comfort. If Emily sat down, hed leap onto her lap, purring like an engine. If she was upset, hed nuzzle close, his warmth a silent reassurance.
Everything was perfectuntil the night Oliver snapped. He called her foolish for wasting time and money on a «hopeless case.» Why not get a pedigree cat, something worth the effort?
The words cut deep. How could he not see what Whiskers meant to her? She tried to explain, but Oliver just scoffed and walked out, tossing one last cruel remark over his shoulder.
Thats when it hit her. The real blindness here wasnt Whiskersit was Olivers. He couldnt see the loyalty, the love, the sheer resilience of this tiny creature.
The breakup was quiet, almost peaceful. Emily realised she didnt need a man who couldnt appreciate kindness in its purest form. And as for Whiskers? Well, he was more than just a pet. He was family.
