Overslept! By the time she managed to apply lipstick on her way from the bathroom to the front door, glanced at her reflection in the mirror, and hastily pulled on her raincoat and boots, Lily found herself in the elevator just three minutes after waking up.
Stepping outside, she noticed a light, drizzling September rain, but there was no time to return for an umbrella. Her unreliable alarm clock had let her down today. Lily raced towards the bus stop, her heart racing. Being late for work was tantamount to risking her job, given her boss’s strict demeanor.
Running through all possible scenarios for the day in her head, accepting each one mentally, Lily had already said her goodbyes to her cherished clients, potential bonuses, and the extra day off she had left from her last holiday. People in a similar hurry rushed past her, each absorbed in their own thoughts, oblivious to anything around them. The day was drab, dull, and gloomy, and the persistent rain only added to the cheerless atmosphere.
With less than two hundred meters to go, Lily suddenly stopped and glanced back. Near a shabby bench sat a little wet kitten. It alternated lifting its tiny paws, trying to meow, but could only open its mouth silently.
She hesitated for a brief moment, torn between continuing her dash or helping the tiny creature that seemed in distress. The delay was unavoidable, so if she was going to face her boss’s wrath anyway, she decided it was worth rescuing the kitten.
Approaching closer, she saw that the kitten’s back leg was bent in an unnatural way. “Oh, dear! Who did this to you?”
All doubts evaporated like morning mist. The kitten was so soaked and chilled, it trembled like a lone leaf clinging desperately to a branch in the wind.
Carefully wrapping the injured creature in her white scarf, Lily tucked the kitten inside her coat and sped up towards the stop. Her plan was to reach her office first and figure things out from there. Her compassionate heart wouldn’t allow her to abandon the kitten to its fate.
Attempting to slip to her desk unnoticed was a complete failure. Nearing the end of the hallway, Lily almost sighed with relief when she saw her office door, number 12, but luck wasn’t on her side. Just around the corner, she bumped into her boss.
“Walters! A whole hour late! Where have you been? Who’s supposed to do your job? Have you no sense of responsibility?”
Several more questions followed, all designed to instill a sense of profound guilt in the timid young woman, widening the chasm between boss and employee. Standing there, soaked and speechless, she felt tears welling up, suffocated by a sense of injustice.
“Look!” Lily managed to say, undoing the top button of her coat. A tiny, forlorn face peered out. The kitten, a bit drier and warmer now, let out a raspy meow.
“His leg’s injured. I couldn’t leave him out there in the rain… All alone…”
Tears streamed from her eyes, words jumbled, her hands trembling with betrayal. Already resolved to submit her resignation, she turned to gather her things when a warm, firm hand stopped her.
Her boss, Mr. Smith, pulled out his phone, dialed a familiar number, then jotted down an address, instructing her to go there immediately and get the little furball’s leg seen to.
Baffled by this sudden change of tone, Lily took the slip of paper, stuffed it with her red, cold fingers into her pocket, and hurried to leave.
“And don’t come back today.”
Her heart sank to her feet, and despair slowly engulfed her. So this was how her brief career at her beloved job ended. Yet, her boss continued, “Take today off. And tomorrow as well. Plus, I’m giving you a commendation. And a bonus… for your kindness to our furry friends.”
Mr. Smith, slightly older than Lily, was known in the office for his stern demeanor, and she only ever encountered him on work-related occasions. Whispers about his harsh attitude towards employees often circulated.
At the veterinary clinic where Mr. Smith had sent Lily, the vet quickly addressed the kitten’s leg issue. It wasn’t broken, just a severe sprain. As the vet worked, Lily recounted how she’d found the poor creature on the street and how her boss had first chastised, then surprisingly assisted her.
Laughing, the vet revealed he’d known Mr. Smith, or John as he called him, since childhood. His friend had always been a savior to stray animals, rescuing puppies from cold rivers and once pulling a kitten from a group of mean teenagers.
As he grew and started earning money, John always donated some to animal shelters, even dedicating his first scholarship entirely to a fund for rescuing a homeless dog.
But with people, he sometimes struggled. Having lost his entire family young, he became closed off, harsh, and unyielding.
This story touched Lily deeply, and she couldn’t shake Mr. Smith from her mind for the rest of the day. She felt an unexpected desire to offer him comfort and support.
That evening, as the kitten recovered from its ordeal and snoozed on the soft, warm bed Lily had set up for him, she arranged a spot for her new housemate. The little one had endured much from its time in the streets, possibly longer than just a day.
How long it had roamed as a stray was a mystery. Even in sleep, it twitched and softly squeaked, but the loneliness had ended for both Lily and her newfound friend. She happily anticipated caring for her pet, showering it with all her love.
Reflecting on these thoughts with a smile, Lily made a cozy bed for Whiskers. The name seemed just right for the small, defenseless creature. Her peaceful musings were interrupted by the sudden ring of her phone—it was Mr. Smith.
“How’s our little patient doing?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she eagerly updated him about the kitten’s condition, thanking him profusely afterward. To her surprise, Mr. Smith invited her to dinner, and they conversed late into the night.
The man, now appearing familiar, close, and kind, was next to her, with the little bandaged kitten receiving all the warmth and attention from two kindred spirits.
Before long, they began working together to help unfortunate animals trapped in difficult situations and raising their beloved Whiskers, who now seemed like a kindred spirit himself.
