I leaned back in my rocking chair, inhaling the vapor from a fresh cup of tea. The hints of raspberry mixed with rose tickling my nose hairs. With a long sigh, I blew waves across the top of the liquid. The disturbance echoing back from where it hit the rim on the mug. Raising the cup to my lips, I sipped the tea with its slight hint of sugar from the teaspoon I’d added. Another sigh escaped my lungs as I rocked in the chair.
The sun slipped below the horizon and the clouds began transitioning through multiple hues. The heavens were painted as birds chirped around me, jumping into the air to dart to a new perch every minute or so. Then there was a moment of silence as the breeze ceased carrying sound from the highway nearby. The leaves stopped rustling and the grass stayed still. Pearl drops of rain hung onto the leaves of a bush nearby and the thick humidity from the recent rain began to build up.
Then the breeze started again and the birds whistled merrily. The trees whispered to each other and the bush shook off the rain. I took another sip, savoring the robust flavor that came from loose leaf tea. Then a noise crept to me on the wind. A mewing sound, a heart wrenching noise that brought me to the front of my chair. Setting the cup down on the stand next to me, I strained to hear the noise again. Then there it was. That mew.
I stood up and took a few steps down the patio steps before pausing to listen. The sound came with each fresh wave of air and I found myself closer to the source until I was standing in front of a neighbors house a few driveways down the street. I paused and waited, pinpointing the mew to a specific rose bush in their front yard. I would ask for forgiveness if caught, but the cry had moved my heart. I tip toed up to the bush and gently pushed the thorny limbs aside, peering through the leaves. I saw a ball of fur, curled up tight with water matting the hair close to its body. The mew came again, a surprisingly loud noise from something so small, and my chest tightened.
I could tell now that it was a kitten. A calico little beauty of tan, black, and white. It had escaped from the rain by climbing into the rose bush, but now the tapestry of thorns kept it locked in place. The mew sounded once more and the little head lifted and eyes stared at up at me. Those dark pupils were hesitant at first, but then became pleading and heart wrenching. I shoved my hands into the bush, attempting to avoiding the thorns but earning long gashes up my forearms. I spread the limbs and cupped the dripping body in my hands. Then lifting the kitten gently out of the bush, I cupped its lightweight form to my chest.
I padded back to my house and grabbed a towel from the hallway closet. Wrapping the kitten up snuggly, I scratched it behind the ears and pulled it back against my chest.
“Who’s a good girl.” I crooned. “Such a good girl.”
We stayed there, the little body shivering as I kept soothing it. I could feel the invisible rope already wrapping around my heart and knotting as the shivering slowly subsided. I opened up the fridge and poured some milk into a bowl before nuking it in the microwave for a few seconds. Then taking the kitten gently out of the towel, I set the bowl and her on the floor. She staggered over to the bowl, her tiny legs barely keeping her body up. Then she started lapping the milk, a tiny tongue darting in and out, ripples dancing along the surface. She looked up at me with a droplet of milk on her whiskers that I watched drop into the bowl, causing one more ring of ripples.
“Come here sweetie.” I held out my hands.
Without any hesitation, the kitten walked over and into my grasp. I stood up and held her to my cheek. I rubbed her slightly damp fur against my skin and inhaled the musty scent. My chest felt full as I walked over to my couch and sat down. I lowered her onto my lap and she curled up into a tight ball, falling asleep. I grabbed my iPad and started flicking through Amazon as I added a litter box, food and toys to my cart. A boom of thunder rang in the distance, but the storm had passed for me.