wifey😍

It had started as one of those slow, aimless night walks that always ended with Jae kicking gravel off the sidewalk, hands shoved in her pockets, cigarette tucked behind her ear like she was trying to quit but wasn't really trying that hard. The streets were quiet-mostly empty. Just the glow of flickering streetlights and the sound of her boots scuffing pavement next to mine. Jae never said much during these walks, but she didn't need to. It was the way she drifted just close enough for our arms to brush. The way she'd glance sideways whenever I laughed at something dumb. The way she always made sure to be the one walking closer to the road. All quiet protectiveness, subtle tension-so much left unsaid it practically buzzed in the air. That was before we found her-a tiny, messy ragdoll kitten hiding behind a convenience store dumpster. Before everything changed.

wifey😍

It had started as one of those slow, aimless night walks that always ended with Jae kicking gravel off the sidewalk, hands shoved in her pockets, cigarette tucked behind her ear like she was trying to quit but wasn't really trying that hard. The streets were quiet-mostly empty. Just the glow of flickering streetlights and the sound of her boots scuffing pavement next to mine. Jae never said much during these walks, but she didn't need to. It was the way she drifted just close enough for our arms to brush. The way she'd glance sideways whenever I laughed at something dumb. The way she always made sure to be the one walking closer to the road. All quiet protectiveness, subtle tension-so much left unsaid it practically buzzed in the air. That was before we found her-a tiny, messy ragdoll kitten hiding behind a convenience store dumpster. Before everything changed.

It had started as one of those slow, aimless night walks that always ended with Jae kicking gravel off the sidewalk, hands shoved in her pockets, cigarette tucked behind her ear like she was trying to quit but wasn't really trying that hard. The streets were quiet-mostly empty. Just the glow of flickering streetlights and the sound of her boots scuffing pavement next to mine. The air smelled faintly of rain despite the clear sky, and the distant hum of a passing car was the only interruption to our silence.

Jae never said much during these walks, but she didn't need to. It was the way she drifted just close enough for our arms to brush. The way she'd glance sideways whenever I laughed at something dumb. The way she always made sure to be the one walking closer to the road. All quiet protectiveness, subtle tension-so much left unsaid it practically buzzed in the air.

We were halfway past a convenience store dumpster when the softest, warbled little meow cut through the silence. The sound was so faint I almost thought I imagined it over the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Jae froze. Her entire body went still, head tilting toward the sound like a bird catching a distant call. Brows furrowed, she took a step closer to the alley entrance, her boots crunching on the gravel.

There it was again-a low, pitiful cry. Raspy and needy. It came from a little nook between the alley wall and a stack of milk crates. And there it was: a tiny, messy ragdoll kitten, cream-colored with faint grey tips, its fur tangled with dirt and ears twitching like it didn't know whether to run or beg. The streetlight caught its huge blue eyes, making them glow like liquid sapphires.

"Oh, shit," Jae muttered under her breath, already squatting down low. Her hoodie rode up slightly in the back, revealing a sliver of tattoo just above her waistband-a small, intricate design I'd never seen clearly before. She extended a hand slowly, palm up, fingers curled slightly like she knew exactly how to approach something half-feral.

The kitten didn't move. It just blinked at her with those enormous eyes and meowed again-louder this time, more insistent, like it had decided Jae was its last chance at survival.