On a rainy night in mid October I found a stray.
I saw him from across the street, wandering with no destination in mind looking lost and abandoned. I tried to convince myself that he had a place to call home , but I knew I was lying. Home was a place of love and warmth and I could see that he was cold and alone. I decided to approach him slowly extending my arm only so much so that we would both be momentarily sheltered from the rain , not truly sure what my intentions would bring, but as anticipated, I was ignored. Annoyed I approached him more aggressively and to my surprise he ran. Call it reflexes or stubborn determination but I chased after him. I was bigger, stronger ,faster, and eventually cornered him behind an ally. Of course he fought. Cried, clawed and scratched, but I held on and eventually he gave in. We were both drenched by the time I brought him home and after a hot bath warm meal and the making of a makeshift bed we were both asleep.
In the morning when I awoke I was sure that he would have run away, but to my surprise he didn't try to escape, he was still here in front of me fast asleep. As the weeks went by not much had changed. Before I went to work I made sure there enough food till I got back that night ,made another meal and went to sleep. Everything was by the hour ,but his presence was only a small ripple in my old routine, yet despite my every attempt to show my affection I received nothing back. My friends told me that I had to drop this puppy love. I being immature, unreasonable, or foolish, that a stray could never be tamed, especially this one in particular. He was short tempered, arrogant, had a pride so large that I would never be acknowledge as his superior ,and was nothing less than a pain in the ass, but I couldn't let him go.
It was raining again and he had lived with me for a few months now yet things were still the same. Work required me to stay late, but the last bus had left hours ago ,and out of convince I rented a hotel for the night. I did not go home, and part of me wondered if he would be worried, if he'd care, or if he would even notice. He wouldn't starve for just one night and I'd be back tomorrow. Though It would be easier to just go straight to work and avoided the morning rush. I could start early on the paper work and maybe get out early, but it always seems that the days that are supposed to be easy always seem to be hard. At least this time I was able to catch the last bus, even if it required me to run though the pouring rain shouting like a mad man. I was exhausted and soaked, and didn't bother changing accepting that the sheet may be ruined or maybe I would catch a cold, a problem that could be dealt with later. For now sleeps call was just all to tempting, but it did not come. My door slammed open and something attached itself to my side. I tried to move him off not wanting him too, to be in rain stricken attire, but he wouldn't let go. I looked into those big red eyes and what I saw left me heart broken. I saw a mix of emotions anxiety,annoyance, worry, and concern, but mostly fear. The fear of being left alone and abandoned ,having to wander once more. So I let him stay there holding on to me tight, as he did every night to come. This place was no longer my home and my home alone, we lived it in together so that he had a place to call his own.
On a rainy night in mid December I no longer had a stray.