In the blink of an eye, I was already at the door, standing in the corridor beside the broken mirror, my whole body shaking—not in fear, but rather in the cold. I stared at the door, the wood rough and splintered, as if it had seen too much. It felt as if the door was older than it seemed. I have lived in this house all my life. The air felt thick, almost electric, and every heartbeat echoed in my ears. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the chill crept deeper, wrapping around my bones. What lay beyond that door? I whispered under my breath. It was a question I kept asking myself. I wanted to open the door to see what all this disturbance was about. But the more I stared at the door, the more it felt like the room was spinning, and if I took a step, the door would magically keep getting further and further away from my grasp.

I didn’t know how long I had been staring at the door, but I tuned out all the noise around me. It felt like I had fallen into the deep end, and everything around me was quiet and black—except for the door. The brown wooden door with gold stripes that peered through the brown stared back at me, and I stared at it. I was in, a trance when the bell rang again, breaking me suddenly. The silence was, once again filled with the sound of birds singing and life awakening, as if someone had flipped a switch, bringing everything back to life.

I quickly snapped out of it and tried to move, but at that moment, I lost balance falling backward, tripping on the rug, that was behind me. The soft, muted colors of the room swirled around me as I landed on the floor, laughter bubbling up unexpectedly. The air was thick with the scent of dust and the faint sound of birdsong drifting in from outside. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all, realizing I hadn’t slept well and must be imagining things. But after that crazy moment on the floor, I stretched out my hand to grab the edge of the table nearby, trying to pull myself up. After three attempts, I finally managed it. You might wonder why it took three tries—it was because I was laughing like a lunatic, the sound echoing in the quiet room and mingling with the soft rustle of leaves outside. I jumped once, letting out all my laughter, took a deep breath, and then went back into the kitchen to finish my breakfast. This time, in peace, I whispered under my breath. I started walking toward my table, and as I stretched, cracking my whole body like a glow stick I noticed a shadow—something that hadn’t been there before. Fear gripped me, my heart racing so fast I could hear it pounding in my head. But as I slowly approached the table, I sighed in relief. When I saw that it was just a cat. A cat I had never seen before, its fur as dark as the uncharted depths of space, with eyes as green as an untouched field. Something was unsettling in its gaze, an eerie pull that made my heart quicken. The moment I looked into those eyes, I felt an unsettling shift, as if the world around me faded, and I was teetering on the edge of something unknown—lost. The cat purred softly as I stroked its fur, which felt like a warm cloud against my fingers.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

“You must be hungry,” I said, glancing around my kitchen for something to offer. I wondered how long it had been wandering outside, alone and scared. As I filled a small bowl with water and found some leftover tuna, the cat watched me with wide, trusting eyes. I placed the bowl on the floor, and it approached cautiously, then devoured the food with an urgency that tugged at my heart.

“Where did you come from?” I murmured, settling down on the floor beside it. It looked up at me, and for a moment, I felt an unspoken connection—a shared understanding of feeling lost.

In that quiet moment, the world outside faded away. It was just me and the cat, two lost souls finding solace in each other’s presence. I could feel my worries melting into the background, replaced by a sense of peace. As it finished eating, the cat nuzzled against my leg, seeking comfort. I smiled, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through me. “I guess we’re both looking for a little company,” I said softly.

In that cozy kitchen, I realized how comforting it could be to connect with someone—or something—when you least expect it. I reached out to scratch behind its ears, and the cat leaned into my touch, purring louder. It felt like we were both home, even if just for that moment.

I gently patted the cat's head one last time, feeling his warmth against my palms. His meow was almost a sigh of relief as if he was finally at ease. I stood up, glancing around the kitchen for a towel, hoping to make him more comfortable. After rummaging through a few drawers, I found a soft, old towel and brought it back. I knelt beside him, wrapping the towel around his small body. He seemed to relax even more, settling into the fabric as if it were a cozy blanket.

“There you go, little buddy,” I whispered. “You’re safe now.” As I watched him snuggle into the towel, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of purpose. I wanted to help him feel at home, just as he had made me feel less alone in that moment. The moment when it seemed like nothing was wrong, yet there was an unsettling feeling that wouldn’t go away. I brushed that aside, grabbed the kitty, and went up to my room, where it’s so cozy I might invite all the animals inside. And yet, as I was standing at the door thinking that, I dismissed it, thinking it was such a stupid idea. I was happy at least that one animal had come to my rescue—no way more would come, right? yeah, no way more animals will come because no human has come to check if I’m even alive. They’re all just waiting for me to disappear and die, to leave them alone so they can live their happy lives. or so I thought.....