Her Final Day

She moved quietly towards the cage, as was her custom to do, stopping to gaze beyond the bars of the cage at the small animal lying on its side.

“Hello, baby,” she said softly, not wanting to disturb her furry friend's rest.

A thought occurred to her as she stood looking at this animal, that this might not work out the way she had originally thought it would. Still, she had to be sure.

She knelt down until she was eye-level with the cage and continued observing her little friend, hoping against hope that she might show some small sign of recognition towards her.

The possibility was there, but it was more likely a result of wishful thinking and silly daydreaming. “I'm being silly,” she thought to herself, and started to turn away. A small “meow” caught her attention just in time to see the brown and white tabby stand up, stretch, and walk to the front of the cage.

Suddenly she felt a cold nose on her finger that was still intertwined in the bars of the cage.

“Oh, dear Lord, you remember me!”

“Meow,” she heard again, this time sounding closer and more direct.

“You want to come home with me?”

As if in answer to her question, a small white paw came out of the cage and softly touched the side of her face.

She was on her way to her “forever” home.

Written 06-11-2013 by Jackie W. Swanson
One month after I adopted my own “Honey”, she inspired me to write this fictional story of someone who had also visited a no-kill shelter.