A father abandoned his family for another woman when his daughter was just four years old. He walked out the door after New Years, murmuring Im sorry to little Emily before stepping into the cold. Her mother took it with eerie calm, as if it were an unavoidable fateafter all, no woman in her family had ever known a lasting marriage. But weeks later, under cover of night, she swallowed every diazepam and paracetamol pill in the house and drifted into an endless sleep.
That morning, Emily tried for ages to wake her mother, shaking her and calling out. When nothing worked, she scavenged breakfast from the fridge and returned, refusing to give up. Exhausted, she finally curled up beside her mother and fell asleep, clinging tight.
January days slip by quickly. Dusk had already settled when Emily stirred awake, shivering. She tugged the blanket closer and pressed against her motheronly to recoil. The unbearable cold radiated from her. Hot tears scorched Emilys cheeks.
Then, the front door creaked open. Emily bolted like a whirlwindit was Aunt Charlotte, her mothers younger sister.
“Emily, there you are! Wheres your mum? Ive been calling all daywhy isnt she answering? Ive been worried sick!”
Emily gripped Charlottes coat, yanking her forward. She pointed frantically toward the bedroom, her face twisted in silent agony. Her mouth moved, tears and snot streaming, but no sound came out.
Charlotte had never had children, so her husband left her after five years of marriage. With no little ones of her own, she poured all her love into Emily, treating her like a daughter. When tragedy struck, Charlotte handled the paperwork without hesitation, taking Emily in. She gave the girl endless care, but no therapy or treatment in three years could restore her voice.
That winter, the cold arrived with St. Stephens Day, bringing proper, crunching snow. Emily and her friends spent the afternoon sledding in Hyde Park, building snowmen families, rolling in the powder, and making snow angels.
“Time to go home. Your clothes are frozen stiff, and your gloves are little ice blocks. Come onwell stop at the shop for milk and pasta,” Charlotte urged.
People hurried in and out of the supermarket as a ginger cat sat motionless by the entrance, eyes half-lidded, as if it owned the place. Only its front paws twitched against the cold. Emily crouched beside it, then waved Charlotte off to shop alone.
“Fine, Ill be quick. Dont move from here!”
Emily stroked the cat gently. It arched its back, purring, then nuzzled into her. She hugged its neck, pressing her face to its furuntil hot tears spilled. The cat licked them away, sneezed, then licked again.
“Thats disgusting! Its a filthy stray,” Charlotte scolded, grabbing Emilys hand and dragging her toward the car. Emily fought, twisting free, but Charlotte bundled her into the backseat.
The cat trotted after them, mewling at the car window.
“I cant leave him. Hes mine now,” Emily whispered, tracing the glass with her tears.
“Did you just? Say it again. Please, say it again,” Charlotte begged, voice trembling.
“We cant leave him! Hell die without me!” Emily shouted, clear as day.
Charlotte leapt out, scooped up the cat, and slid into the backseat beside Emily. The ginger tom, startled, dug his claws into her coatthen spotted Emily and leapt onto her lap, curling into a ball.
“You wanted this cat? You only had to say soId have gotten you one ages ago,” Charlotte laughed, her eyes shining.
