Good Evening to the Cat | Amano Writing Club

The cat is always waiting for me when I return from work.
Does it notice me by the sound of my footsteps on the stairs?

It stares at me in front of the entrance.
"Good evening."

When I speak to it, it purrs and rubs its body against me.

I met that cat on a rainy night half a year ago.
I wrapped its soaking wet body in a towel in front of my apartment building.

Since then, the cat has been waiting for me every night.
"Good evening."
I walk past it and enter my room.

One day, Sato-san from the next room said,
"You should just adopt that cat."
"I suppose so."
I smiled vaguely.

When I told my friend Mika about it, she said the same thing.
"It's attached to you, isn't it? Why don't you adopt it?"
"Hmm."
I didn't answer.

It's not that I don't want to adopt it.
But I can't.

Three years ago, I had a cat.
On a day when I was late from work, that cat fell ill.

By the time I noticed, it was too late.
If only I had noticed sooner.
If only I had been watching more carefully.
I blamed myself.

I thought about adopting another cat several times.
What if the same thing happened again?
What if I couldn't protect it again?
When I thought about that, I couldn't find the courage.

That is why I only say "Good evening" to the current cat.
I just greet it every night.

One night, the cat was not in its usual spot.

I searched desperately around the apartment building.
I found it in the shadows of the parking lot.

"So this is where you were."
When I spoke to it, the cat slowly approached me.

I crouched down and stroked its head.
"I was worried about you."
The cat narrowed its eyes.

I started to pick it up, but stopped.
"Good evening."

I will be participating in the Amano Writing Club.

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