Overslept! In a frantic rush, Lily managed to apply her lipstick and check her reflection before pulling on her coat and boots. Three minutes after waking, she was already in the lift.
As she stepped outside, she realized it was drizzling, but there was no time to go back for an umbrella. Her unreliable alarm clock had failed her today. Lily sprinted towards the bus stop, her heart racing. Being late for work was like not showing up at all in her boss’s book, and it could even lead to getting the sack.
She mentally ran through all possible outcomes of the day, silently bidding farewell to her favorite clients, a bonus, and an extra day off she had left from her last holiday. People rushed past her, equally late or simply hurrying, lost in their thoughts and oblivious to everything around. Everything was grey, dull, and sad, and the rain only added to the dreariness of a day that had started poorly.
There were no more than two hundred meters to the stop. Suddenly, Lily halted and looked back. By a worn bench sat a small, soaked kitten, trying to meow but managing only to silently open its mouth, lifting first one paw and then the other.
For a moment, Lily hesitated, torn between continuing to where she needed to be or helping the little creature in trouble. Since being late was unavoidable and she’d have to face her boss’s wrath anyway, she decided to rescue the kitten.
Approaching closer, she noticed the kitten’s back leg bent awkwardly.
“Oh my goodness! What happened to you?”
Any lingering doubts dissipated, like morning fog. The kitten was so wet and cold it was trembling like the last autumn leaf clinging to a branch in the wind.
Gently wrapping the kitten in her white scarf, Lily tucked it inside her coat and dashed towards the bus stop even faster. She planned to reach her office and then deal with the situation. Leaving the kitten to fend for itself wasn’t an option for her kind heart.
Her attempt to sneak to her desk unnoticed failed spectacularly. Reaching the final stretch of the corridor to her office, number 12, Lily sighed with relief, but luck wasn’t on her side. Right around the corner, she bumped into her boss.
“Perkins! You’re an hour late! Where have you been? Who’s going to do your work? Have you lost your mind?”
There followed a barrage of questions meant to stir guilt in the timid young woman and deepen the chasm between manager and employee. Soaked through, Lily was speechless. Tears welled up, and she choked with resentment.
“Here!” was all Lily managed to say as she unbuttoned the top of her coat. The bedraggled little face peeked out. The kitten, a little drier and warmer, managed a plaintive meow.
“I couldn’t leave him out there with a broken leg… In the rain… All alone…”
Tears streamed down her face, words tangled, her hands trembled with betrayal. Already preparing her resignation in her mind, she moved forward to pack her belongings, but the warmth and strength of her boss’s hand stopped her.
With his free hand, the director took out his phone, called a familiar number, wrote down an address, and instructed her to go there immediately to save the little one’s leg.
Confused by the sudden change in her boss’s demeanor, Lily accepted the slip of paper, stuffed it into her pocket, and hurried to the exit.
“And don’t come back here.”
Lily’s heart sank, desolation spreading through her. So her brief career at her cherished job was over. But her boss continued:
“Take today off. And tomorrow too. Also, my gratitude and a bonus… for loving our furry friends.”
Her boss was James Smith. A bit older than Lily, he always seemed a stern man. She met him rarely, only at work, though rumors of his tough management style often circulated the office.
At the veterinary clinic where James had sent her, the vet quickly assessed the kitten’s leg. No break, just a bad sprain and dislocation. As the vet treated the leg and wrapped it in a bandage, Lily recounted her morning’s events and her boss’s unexpected change of heart.
The vet chuckled and said he’d known James since childhood. Even as a kid, he was a hero to stray animals, rescuing puppies from ponds and once snatching a kitten from some cruel teenagers.
As an adult, he donated to shelters, and even his first college stipend went to a fund for a tailless dog rescue. Despite his kindness to animals, he struggled with people, having lost his family young, making him closed off and harsh.
This story tugged at Lily’s heart, and throughout the day, she couldn’t shake thoughts of James. She felt an urge to console and support him. That night, while the kitten recovered and slept contentedly in her warm bed, Lily prepared a cozy spot for her new companion. The little one had endured much, possibly wandering for days.
Now, Lily’s loneliness found an end with her new rescued friend. She looked forward to caring for him and giving him her love.
With a smile, Lily made a snug bed for Whiskers. The name seemed just right for the small, defenseless kitten. Her musings were interrupted by an unexpected call. It was James.
“How’s our patient doing?”
Blushing, Lily eagerly shared her pet’s recovery and thanked her boss profusely. Unexpectedly, James invited her to dinner, and they talked all night. The man, once distant but now seemingly familiar and kindred, sat with her.
Beside them sat the kitten, with its bandaged paw, receiving as much attention and affection as two good-hearted people could offer their newfound furry friend.
Soon, together they aided other troubled animals and raised Whiskers, who seemed a kindred spirit too.
