Kate didn’t immediately realise who was slinking along the roadside. She parked the car and dashed toward the creature that desperately needed help…
Getting closer, she nearly burst into tears. Before her, wobbling on its paws, stood an emaciated cat. Kate couldn’t even tell what colour it was, because the animal was caked in mud.
But the worst part – the poor thing couldn’t see or breathe properly. A cut plastic bottle was jammed over its head.
“Who did this to you?” she gasped, gently scooping up the little mite.
It felt weightless. The cat made a weak attempt to struggle, failed, and hung limp in her arms.
“Tom, are you at work? I need you urgently. Wait for me!” she shouted into her phone, then rushed to the veterinary practice where her friend worked.
For the next two hours, Tom and his colleagues fought for the animal’s life. Kate sat quietly in the corridor, straining to listen.
“Well,” he said finally, “this cat was lucky to run into you. A bit longer and we wouldn’t have been able to help. He’ll stay here tonight. I’m on duty, so I’ll keep an eye on your little patient.” He smiled.
“Tom, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know…” Kate began, then burst into tears, burying her face in his shoulder.
Tom patted her head. “It’ll be all right, Katie. Remember how we used to get through things as kids?” He winked at his best friend.
Kate smiled through her tears. They’d known each other for years. Tom had bailed her out countless times. Ever since childhood, she knew – if Tom was around, everything would be fine.
“Go home. Your mum will kick off again otherwise,” he said, suddenly worried.
Kate nodded and hurried out. Tom watched her go, his eyes soft…
—
Tom’s worry was justified. He lived next door and knew her family. Kate’s parents had been heavy drinkers for a long time.
Last year her father had passed away. Her mother was inconsolable – and she was losing her grip on reality, taking it out on her daughter.
Tom always felt a bit sorry for the pretty redhead with freckles.
He was three years older than Kate and had taken her under his wing from the start. He protected her from bullies and the girls who teased her. Kate accepted his help gratefully.
Unlike her parents, she was determined to make something of herself. She’d left school with a silver medal and knew she’d need to work like mad to get into a top university.
Now she was a third-year student in Modern Languages.
Tom was incredibly proud of her. He’d finished veterinary college not long ago, loved his job, but reckoned learning foreign languages was way harder.
Kate managed not only to study but also to work as a courier, using the second-hand car her father had left her.
“I’m home!” Kate called from the hallway.
In reply came a steady snore. The flat reeked of alcohol. Her mother was asleep, one leg dangling off the sofa. Empty bottles littered the floor.
Kate sighed, cleared away the mess, and went to her room to prepare for lectures.
But she couldn’t get the image of that tormented animal out of her head. How was he doing? She grabbed her phone and texted Tom…
The poor cat slept, twitching in his dreams. He felt as though his tormentors were still nearby. He whimpered softly, then slipped back into darkness.
“You’ll pull through, little fighter. For Kate. She’s waiting for you, and she wants you to get better,” Tom whispered as he sat beside him.
By morning the cat opened his eyes, saw a human nearby, and tried to run. He couldn’t. He stared at Tom in terror, pain frozen in his gaze.
“Easy, little one, I won’t hurt you,” Tom said.
But the cat knew you couldn’t trust anyone in this world. He tried to hiss, but only a rasp came out.
“It’s okay, handsome,” Tom said, carefully examining him.
The poor thing spent a week at the clinic. Kate came every day to see her new friend, who initially flinched from everyone. But eventually he chose Kate and Tom, cautiously letting them near.
“So you’ve decided to take him home?” Tom asked.
He worried how Kate’s mother would react to a new family member. Kate nodded confidently, hugging the cat close…
Surprisingly, the woman took the pet in stride. She just rasped, “I hope I’m not the one who has to feed him?”
Kate snorted. Her mother spent her entire pension on booze. The cat – and Kate – weren’t part of her plans.
“Mum, I’ll feed him myself,” Kate said with a sigh.
“That’s an adult answer. Well done,” her mother said, almost pleased.
Then, as if waking up, she asked, “What have you called him?”
Kate looked at the greyish-red cat. “Rusty.”
“Well, he does look a bit like a rusty old thing,” her mother laughed.
And so they began living with the cat. Kate felt happier coming home now, because she knew someone was waiting for her…
Rusty didn’t trust Kate’s mother. The woman’s raspy voice and sudden movements scared him. And the smell of alcohol made him nervous.
So when Kate wasn’t home, he stayed out of sight.
“He’s a bit wild, not affectionate,” her mother grumbled.
Kate shrugged and avoided arguments.
When Tom visited, Rusty would cautiously come out. Then he’d rub against his legs. He remembered the young man well and was grateful for being saved.
Tom told Kate that Rusty was about four years old. But he’d been through a lot. He was missing some teeth, had trouble with one paw, and a heart condition.
“Any heavy strain – like flying in a plane – would be dangerous for him,” Tom said.
“Oh well, there go our plans for a holiday abroad with Rusty,” Kate laughed, knowing full well that flights were out of the question…
—
Two years passed.
Kate was finishing university and dreaming of a career as a translator. One day she was delivering a package to a large company’s office.
The receptionist took the parcel. Kate was about to leave when a flustered man came out of a meeting room.
“I haven’t got a clue what to do. Negotiations in an hour, and not a single decent translator!” he sighed.
Kate couldn’t help staring at the handsome man. He noticed her too.
“You wouldn’t happen to be a translator, would you?” he asked.
The receptionist opened her mouth, but Kate cut in: “Yes, I am. I speak English and Chinese,” she said briskly.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the receptionist’s eyes go wide as saucers. But she decided to take the risk…
And so, soon after graduating, Catherine (Kate) got a job as personal assistant to Michael (Mike) Williams.
Michael turned out to be a charming man of thirty-five. Within a couple of months their relationship became more than professional. Kate enjoyed his attention. He courted her beautifully, gave her unusual gifts.
“You seem different, mate. Since you started that job, you’ve changed,” Tom said to Kate.
She smiled mysteriously. She didn’t want to share her happiness with anyone…
“You should tell her. How long are you going to pine after Kate?” Tom’s best friend Nick kept saying.
“Maybe you’re right. But I’m scared she won’t feel the same, and I’ll ruin our friendship,” Tom admitted.
“This isn’t friendship, it’s torture. You look terrible,” Nick sighed gloomily.
Tom knew his friend was right…
Tom’s birthday came around, and Kate, as always, was the first to arrive to congratulate him. She knocked on the door. Tom was already waiting.
“Happy Birthday, Tom!” she said, stepping inside.
“Years go by, and nothing changes,” Tom’s mum said, smiling at them.
Kate had baked his favourite cake, as usual. They sat in the kitchen drinking tea.
“You seem a bit mysterious today, Tom. What’s up?” Kate started.
“Kate, you know, I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a long time…” Tom began, but Kate interrupted:
“Listen, I’ve got something serious to talk to you about too.”
Tom froze. A flicker of hope stirred inside him.
“You go first then,” he offered.
Kate smiled. “I’ve got a job – you know that. And… I’ve fallen in love!” she blurted, looking straight into his eyes.
Tom was taken aback for a moment. “Finally, Katie. I’m so glad, because I love you too…” he started, but she cut in again:
“And you see, he’s so caring… He’s older than me, but that doesn’t matter, right?”
Tom thought about it. The age gap between them was only three years, and it didn’t bother him at all. He nodded and listened, holding his breath.
“You see, this is my chance at a happy life. Michael is moving to London in two months, and he’s asked me to go with him.
But I can’t take Rusty. You said yourself he has a weak heart. And Michael is allergic to animals,” she said.
Tom felt as though a steamroller had run over him. “Wait – Michael who? What’s allergies got to do with Rusty?” he asked quietly.
“Tom, are you even listening? Michael is my boss – and my fiancé. We’re moving to London. I’ve always wanted to live and work abroad. It’s such an experience!
But we can’t take Rusty. I don’t know what to do. Leaving him with my mum isn’t an option, and giving him away… You know he doesn’t trust people,” Kate sighed.
Tom sat in silence.
“What an idiot I am,” he thought. He pulled himself together and forced a cheerful smile. “Well, Katie. That’s news! Don’t worry, mate. It’ll be fine, I promise. I can take Rusty. He knows me. The main thing is that you’re happy,” he said brightly.
Kate looked into Tom’s eyes. They had turned sad and dim, even though a minute ago they’d been shining with happiness.
“What did you want to tell me?” she asked uncertainly.
“Oh, nothing important. Just some reshuffling at work,” Tom waved his hand…
—
For two months Kate prepared for the move.
Strangely, the closer the departure date got, the heavier her heart became.
“Maybe I’m worried about leaving Mum alone…” she thought. But deep down she knew that wasn’t the real reason for her sadness.
Tom’s sad look kept appearing in her mind. How would she manage without him? They’d been best friends for so long.
Lately she’d even started to feel that their friendship had grown into something more…
“Stop it! Soon I’ll be living with Michael in London. And I’m thinking about Tom,” she scolded herself.
Rusty climbed carefully onto her lap. He sensed something was wrong with his owner and tried to soothe her with a gentle purr.
“Rusty, my little one. How will I live without you?” she whispered.
She remembered a recent conversation with Michael, who’d made it clear the cat had no place in their future:
“Kate, I can’t spend my whole life on antihistamines because of some animal. Even if it’s the most beloved one,” he’d said.
Those words sounded like a sentence…
—
“Well, Katie, time to say goodbye!” Tom said cheerfully, holding Rusty.
“Tom, please call me. Don’t forget,” Kate said through tears.
“Don’t go all mushy, you’ll make Rusty nervous. Sorry we can’t come to the airport,” Tom smiled.
They stood on the landing. Tom let Rusty back inside and hugged Kate.
“Don’t let her go… Don’t let her go!” pounded in his temples.
“I have to go,” Kate said, and kissed him on the cheek.
“I won’t forget. Never,” Tom whispered, releasing her…
—
She stood at the check-in desk, realising that her fate was being decided right now.
“Why so gloomy?” Michael encouraged her.
She tried to smile.
“I won’t forget… never…” Tom’s words echoed in her head.
Kate stared out of the window at the airport building receding.
“Coming back from somewhere?” the taxi driver asked.
“No, I just decided to stay,” Kate replied, tears of joy in her eyes.
“Happens… I reckon you made the right call,” the driver said philosophically.
Rusty sat looking glum.
“It’ll be all right, Rusty!” Tom cheered him.
Then there was a persistent knock at the door. Tom opened it and froze.
“Back on your birthday, you were about to tell me something, but I interrupted,” Kate said.
Tom smiled. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Tom, tell me – what were you going to say?” she repeated.
But he just looked at her, speechless. Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
She stroked Rusty, who was rubbing against her legs, and whispered: “I love you. I can’t live without you and Rusty…”
“That’s exactly what I was going to say, love,” Tom replied.
