“I must admit, Wallflower, that when I received that message from you, I was prepared for the worst.”

⠀
“Okay, I know maybe I overreacted. But you should have seen Trixie’s reaction when he latched onto her leg and wouldn’t let go. It was actually quite hilarious, now that I think about it.”

“Well, he is one healthy little kitten from what I have seen, so it will all remain an adorable scare. And a small wound on her knee. What was she doing in your garden anyway?”

⠀
“I think she was vaping? Who would have thought cats could be this territorial?”

“Turns out he really likes you. I can tell even without my magic.”

“Your gut feeling about the kitten being a ‘he’ was right by the way. I just checked that.”

“Unfortunately, what I initially feared turned out to be true. There are telltale signs of physical abuse. And from what he told me, from a former owner.”

⠀
“How could anyone do something like that? I don’t understand. It sickens me.”

“Some people don’t care for cats at all. Others are just sadistic and violent, and will hurt any animal because they can.”

“ I know I have asked you this, and I don’t want to be pushy. But is there any chance I can convince you of keeping him?

⠀
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, Fluttershy. Don’t you have room in your shelter for him?”

“I do. The question is, do you have room in your heart?”

“Didn’t really mean to. But the question still stands.”

“But I don’t understand. why?”

⠀
“Maybe because of the time it took me to just pet it? Without being clawed into ribbons? What makes you think I could give him the care he deserves?”

“But you did it! This is not something that happens overnight, I should know.”

“It has to do with what happened a week ago, doesn’t it Wallflower?

“There’s a lot of bad people in the world with many bad reasons for doing things. Like abusing animals. But the fact that you care, genuinely, means you aren’t the bad person you think you are.”

“Look. It takes time to regain trust, and to heal emotional wounds. But things get better. One small step at a time. Or a cat treat, in some cases. And I consider you to be on the right path.”

“Your heart’s in the right place, Wallflower. You extended the second opportunity you were given to save an abused soul. You are a good person. And you deserve happiness.”

“How about this then?”

“You can always pay me back in kind. By doing the right thing.”

“So, what do you say?”

Entry Number six

I told her I needed a bit of time to think about it. Truth be told, I wanted to have a moment for myself, while holding the kitten. Fluttershy assured me she would be waiting for me, and my new kitten at the animal shelter. And also that she would call over some friends to help me restore my garden. With that, she left. But not before taking a candid picture of me, and the kitten. I won’t forgive her for that (I told her to send it to me though. It could be of use for me later.).

I’m supposed to be here, meditating upon my decision. It’s probably been at least two hours since she left. The sweet scent of the blossoming flowers of my garden, carried by the gentle breeze of the evening; The kitten lying on my lap, purring at the rhythm of my scratches on his back. He’s nibbling my other hand, softly. Even without the sun, I could still go on.

As it darkens, this sense of peace and tranquility is washing over me. Almost enough to make me tear up. It’s weird, because I don’t know if I will ever have something like this again. I know I never had. While I made up my mind already, I wish this could last forever.

I was so high on this strange warm feeling, that things could get better, that I got the courage to do something to live up to that notion. The notification sound from my phone reminded me of the picture Fluttershy took me with the kitten. She had sent it to me already. I could break the ice between Sunset and me, and I knew exactly how. So I opened MyStable, looked up her profile, mustered up courage and did what could have been considered impossible a few days ago.

⠀
I put down the phone for a few hours, to wait for the butterflies in my stomach to die out. Who could have thought social media could be this exciting?

As much as I wanted to stay for longer, it was getting late. I was hungry, and I’m sure the kitten was too. So I picked him up, gently just how Fluttershy taught me, and prepared to head home. First stop, the animal shelter. Fluttershy would be excited to know I made the right choice. And also to run an extensive health check on him, probably. Before any of that, there was something I was missing. There was something I had to do first, before taking that step. An oath if you may. I couldn’t take care of him.

“If you end up coming into my house, and into the mess that is my life, can you make a promise to me?”

“That we will both take care of each other?”

“Meow.”

Wallflower Saves the Cat

by Thesmokinguy

Real Talk