The shouting match ended abruptly with the front door slamming shut, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. A large, grey cat perked her ears, jumped down from the armchair, and began to inspect the flat. She didn’t like what she saw at all. Lily lay on the sofa, quietly crying.
Bella grew anxious whenever her beloved owner was upset, so she jumped up next to her and began to comfort her in every way a cat could manage. Bella purred her sweetest tunes, kneaded with her paws, tickled with her whiskers, and nuzzled her face. But Lily remained unresponsive and continued to cry.
Bella was surprised because her affection had never gone unnoticed before. The house suddenly felt as if it was brimming with misfortune.
Lily and James adored their cat, and the fluffy darling returned the favor. She was the queen of their little family, taking it upon herself to protect and cheer up those who meant the world to her. Many years ago, on a damp autumn evening, James had come home with a wet kitten hidden in his coat. He couldn’t walk past the trembling grey ball perched on the doorstep. Gentle hands took in the stray, leading to a frenzy of feeding, washing, and warming.
The kitten turned out to be a girl, and since she mostly slept during her first days at home, she was ceremoniously named Bella. Bella was lovingly spoiled, forgiven for her small mischiefs and quirks. She enjoyed the tastiest food, intriguing toys, and even had her own multi-level cat mansion. At night, Bella preferred sleeping in her owners’ bed, next to the ones she loved with all her heart.
A few days later, when James still hadn’t returned home and Lily continued crying on the sofa, Bella sensed that something dreadful had happened to the people she cherished. The cat sat by the window, gazing at the street where an autumn rain poured down. The weather reminded her of the day James had brought her, a scraggly stray, home. They had cared for her together…
“It’s time to save the family. I need to take matters into my own paws!” thought the grey cat and made up her mind.
Lily couldn’t recall how many days she had spent in a daze. Day blended into night, night into day, and all she saw was tears… James had left… They had broken up… Over something trivial… Her thoughts tangled, clashing and collapsing.
Realizing she couldn’t go on like this, Lily slid off the sofa and wandered into the kitchen. Her wandering gaze fell on Bella’s untouched food bowls. “Bella! Bella! My goodness, sweet baby! Where are you?” In a flash, Lily’s apathy vanished. Chiding herself harshly, she rushed to find her cat.
Bella lay like a little furry bundle in James’s favorite chair, showing no response to her owner’s calls. Her magnificent tail drooped, her plush fur was unkempt and lackluster, and her green eyes looked lifeless. Lily gathered the weakened body in her arms and began pacing the flat frantically.
“My little one, what happened to you? Forgive me! How could I have let this happen?” Without letting go of the cat, she grabbed the phone.
“James! Listen… Bella… she’s very unwell… I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I’m taking her to the clinic. Yes, please come.”
An elderly vet examined the patient thoroughly, studied the test results, and chewed on his mustache. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say. There are no visible abnormalities. According to the tests, the cat seems healthy. The ultrasound shows nothing. Everything appears consistent with her age.”
“But what’s wrong with her? Can’t you see, doctor, the state she’s in?”
“I do… May I ask you a question?”
“Yes, doctor, of course!”
“Have there been any changes in your home, in your family recently? I have a hunch that your cat hasn’t taken well to these changes and is consciously withdrawing from life. Think about it. For now, I can only recommend monitoring her diet and giving her vitamins.”
Gently lifting Bella from her carrier, James placed her on the chair and settled next to her on the floor, stroking her tender fur. “Forgive me! I’m such a fool, no words can describe how idiotic I was!”
Bella lifted her head, looked intently at her owner, and nuzzled his hand. “You’ve forgiven me? Thank you! Now it’s Lily’s forgiveness I need to seek.” The voices faded, leaving a serene silence in the flat. The grey cat cautiously hopped off the chair and approached the sofa. Curled up in a tight ball, Lily slept, cuddled close to James…
“Well done!” thought the cat, “And I’m quite the accomplished actress! But this forced diet is certainly doing no favors for my figure!” Proudly fluffing her tail and slyly squinting her green eyes, a very pleased Bella made her way to the kitchen. A guardian of the home should never shy away from a meal.
