Overslept! As she dashed from the bathroom to the front door, applying lipstick, glancing in the mirror, and hurriedly throwing on a coat and shoes, Lily found herself in the lift only three minutes after waking up.
Stepping outside, she realized it was drizzling on this September morning, but there was no time to return for an umbrella. The unreliable alarm clock had failed her today. She sprinted toward the bus stop, anxious not to be late for work. Her boss wasn’t the forgiving type, and being late could be as disastrous as skipping work altogether, potentially leading to her dismissal.
As Lily considered every possible outcome for the day, already bidding farewell to her beloved clients, the bonus, and the extra day off from her last holiday, she joined the throng of people who were also rushing or hurrying along, engrossed in their own thoughts. Everything around seemed bleak and monotonous, with the rain adding to the dreariness of a day that had started on the wrong foot.
With just 200 meters to the bus stop remaining, Lily suddenly halted and looked back. Beside a worn-out bench sat a small, drenched kitten. Shivering from the drizzle, the kitten feebly attempted to meow but could only silently open and close its mouth.
For a brief moment, Lily was torn between continuing to the bus stop or helping the tiny creature that seemed in distress. Realizing she was already late and would face her boss’s wrath regardless, she decided to help the kitten.
Moving closer, she noticed the kitten’s back leg was bent at an odd angle.
“Oh dear! What happened to you?”
Any remaining hesitation vanished like the morning fog. The kitten was soaked and trembling like a lone autumn leaf clinging to a branch in the wind.
Gently wrapping the kitten in her white scarf, Lily tucked it inside her coat and hurried to the bus stop even faster. Her plan was to get to her office first and then decide what to do next. Abandoning the kitten was not an option for her kind heart.
Sneaking to her desk unnoticed proved impossible. Just as she reached a corner leading to her office, room number 12, she collided with her boss.
“Johnson! An entire hour late! Where have you been? Who’ll do your work? Have you lost your mind?”
What followed was a barrage of questions designed to instill guilt and lower her even further in the vast chasm between employer and employee. Soaked to the skin, she stood mute, tears welling up, choking on her frustration.
“Look!” Lily finally blurted, unbuttoning her coat. A little, pitiable face peeked out. The kitten had partially dried, warmed, and managed a feeble cry.
“I found him with a hurt leg…I couldn’t leave him in the rain… All alone…”
Tears streamed from her eyes, words tangled, and her hands shook with betrayal. Already picturing herself writing a resignation letter, she stepped forward intending to pack her things when a strong, warm hand stopped her. Her boss retrieved his phone and dialed a familiar number. Then, he scribbled an address and instructed her to head there at once to help the little furry bundle.
Baffled by her manager’s sudden change of heart, Lily took the note, slipped it into her coat’s pocket, and hurried to the exit.
“And don’t come back here today.”
Her heart sank at these words, and despair enveloped her. This seemed to mark the end of her time at her cherished job. But her boss continued:
“You have today off. And tomorrow too. Plus, I’m commending you and will reward you… for your compassion towards animals.”
Her boss, Charles Henry, was slightly older but always gave the impression of a stern manager. Rarely did she interact with him except for work-related matters, yet whispers of his severity often circulated the office.
At the veterinary clinic her boss directed her to, the vet quickly attended to the kitten’s leg. Fortunately, it wasn’t broken, just a severe sprain. While the vet treated the kitten and applied a bandage, Lily recounted how she had found the poor thing on the street and her boss’s unexpected change from reprimand to help.
The vet laughed, revealing that he had known Charles since childhood. Even back then, his friend would rescue stray animals, heroically saving puppies from freezing water and once rescuing a kitten from cruel teenagers. As he grew and earned money, he routinely donated to animal shelters, having once given his entire first scholarship to save a tailless dog.
However, he wasn’t as adept with people. Losing his entire family when young, he became closed-off and stern.
This story touched Lily deeply, and she spent the rest of the day thinking about Charles. For some reason, she felt compelled to offer him comfort and support.
That evening, while the kitten recovered from its ordeal, sleeping soundly on its new owner’s soft, warm bed, Lily prepared a space for her new furry housemate. The little one had been through so much, possibly more than just a day. No one knew how long it had wandered as a stray, twitching and softly squeaking in its sleep. Her loneliness and that of her saved friend were over. She would lovingly care for her pet and shower it with affection.
Smiling at these thoughts, Lily made a cozy bed for Whiskers, a name she felt fitting for the tiny, defenseless kitten. Her peaceful thoughts were broken by an unexpected phone call. It was Charles.
“How’s our patient doing?”
Lily’s cheeks flushed, and she eagerly shared an update about her ward’s condition, expressing her gratitude to her boss at length. Surprisingly, Charles invited her to dinner, and they talked the night away.
The once-distant and unfamiliar man found his way into her life. And beside them sat the kitten with its bandaged leg, soaking up all the attention and affection it could receive from two kindred spirits. Soon enough, they were working together to help animals in need, and raising little Whiskers, who was surely a kindred spirit as well.
