The humans let me outside again today for the first time in a while. I felt the breeze and the sun against my fur. I smelled the flowers, and the urine of 100 other cats. It was glorious.
I was wandering aimlessly, when all of a sudden he came through that hole in the fence. For a moment I froze, unable to react. Different scenarios ran through my mind: should I spray the yard and tell him to get lost? Should I stick my nose in the air and walk away? Before my mind could catch up to my body, I found myself running towards him.
Nose to nose, I looked into his eyes. Once pained, they immediately softened, full of surprise.
"I missed you," I said. "And I worried about you. There's a tiny killer mouse called a virus somewhere on the outside."
Nemo laughed. "Killer mouse...ha. Sure, kid. I'll be on the lookout." He paused for a moment, looking sad again. "I'm going away for a while. I don't know when or if I'll be back."
I decided not to ask where or why. I didn't want to spend this time talking about logistics or arguing. We stood in the yard for a few minutes longer, which felt like an eternity. It was not nearly long enough.
As I watched him walk away through that hole for what felt like the last time, I didn't feel sadness or anger anymore. I just felt grateful to have known that handsome one-eyed cat. We do have nine lives, I reminded myself. Perhaps I'll see him in the next.
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