Molly decides to adopt another cat.

London. Mille's Pet Shop. 2015.

"Wait a minute. You're taking me to a pet shop?"

"Yes, Molly. Come on. It's been a month since Toby died. I know you loved him, but you have to move on at some point."

"And you think replacing him is the best way to do that?"

"...you know that's not what I meant. Of course, there will never be another Toby. All animals are different, but maybe adopting another cat would make things easier."

Molly sighed and crossed her arms, glaring up at the pet shop sign in front of her. She didn't want to just forget about Toby, but she knew her friend had a valid point. This wasn't about replacing her cat, but finding a new pet to ease her loss. After a few moment's deliberation, she opened the door with Mary in tow.

A little bell rung and a woman behind the cash register greeted them. "Hello, ladies."

Mary and Molly said hello back and the former nudged Molly forward. "Go on. Tell her what you want."

The other woman came out from behind the service counter. "What can I help you with?"

Molly smiled a little. "I was hoping to adopt a cat."

"Oh, wonderful! We have many breeds and sexes ranging from kittens to adult cats. Do you have any in specific that you're looking for?"

Her reply was instantaneous. "A black adult cat, and male, if you've got one."

"As a matter of fact, we have many black cats. Most of them happen to be male, too. So you've come to the right place. Follow me. We keep the adult cats in the back."

Molly and Mary walked with the pet shop employee - her name tag said Tilda - and she led them to what looked like a rec room with a large pen of cats in the middle of the floor. There were also smaller, animal sized pens lined along the wall, each on top of the other.

Once the three women had walked into the room, Tilda pursed her lips. "Let's see. We have two black male cats in the open pen and I think...five in their individual ones. Go ahead and take your pick."

Molly looked over all of the black cats carefully, not really finding one that she felt impressed to get, until she came to the last pen where a cat lie on his side, licking his paw. "Hey, there," she said softly. The cat's ears perked up and he turned his head to meet her eyes.

The beautiful cerulean and emerald orbs that looked back at her made Molly gasp in surprise. She'd never seen such lovely eyes on a cat and something about the way he stared at her made her heart clench. A strange stirring surged in her chest as both woman and cat watched each other carefully.

It was strange, but Molly felt a sense of peace looking into those beautiful eyes. They were so warm and almost familiar to her.

This cat was definitely something special.

After what felt like an eternity, Molly shook herself and waved Tilda over. "I've found the one I want."

Mary had been holding a grey tabby and put him down when she noticed the cat Molly picked. "Aw, he's adorable."

Tilda frowned. "Are you sure you want that one, miss?"

"Yeah, why? Is he an ill mannered cat?"

"Not exactly. It's kind of hard to explain. He's not a bad cat, but he can be...odd at times, as if he knows he doesn't belong here or something. We don't feed him cat food because he never eats it. We can only get him to eat tuna, salmon, veggies and so on. It's like he has the palate of a human."

Molly wrinkled her nose and looked at the black cat again. He now stood on all fours and was standing up to the tiny door of his pen, meowing softly and staring at her. For some silly reason, Molly felt that she was meant to find this cat, and he seemed to feel a pull to her as well.

"Okay, so he's a little odd, but that's fine with me. All cats have a unique personality. I'll take him."

Tilda nodded and pulled out her ring of keys and unlocked the little door. Before she could reach in the container to pick up the cat, he took the initiative and walked out, then hopped into Molly's arms. He purred and rubbed his head against her shirt, making the women smile.

"He's taken a shine to you."

"I'm glad the feeling's mutual." Molly stroked the cat's head between his ears like all cats enjoyed.

"If you'll wait a moment, I'll get the proper paperwork for you to sign and we can go from there." Tilda opened a drawer across the room and began to pull out forms for adopting the cat.

Mary scratched the cat's chin and he closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. "He's such a cutie. Those eyes are so blue and green, too."

"Aren't they? And I think she was right." - at, this, Molly motioned to Tilda - "something about this cat is almost human like."

"But I thought all cats had that trait."

"Mm, not all. This guy is different, though. I can't understand it, but he's special."

"And he clearly likes you, which can't hurt."

The cat covered Molly's hand with his paw and she cooed at the sudden affection. "Oh, I think I'm already falling in love with him. If only I could find a man who I could say the same thing about."

Mary shushed her friend and rubbed her back encouragingly. "Don't beat yourself up over it, Molls. Right now, a cat is the next best thing."

"I guess you're right." Molly giggled when the cat lapped at her fingers. "He's really sweet."

If she had the gift of telekinesis, she certainly would have heard the cat's soft reply, "You're not so bad yourself...Molly."