STREET CATS, we see them everywhere. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they come up to you, or they watch you from a distance. Once you feed them, they follow you around like a kid does to their mother. Soon enough, they grow on you. 

So, you begin to buy them little toys and treats. You want to ensure they’re sleeping comfortably, so you inevitably get them a bed. You worry whether it’s too cold or if it’s too hot. You’re so used to seeing them day in and day out. 

For months, you’ve looked after that cute little thing. It weaves its way into your heart. Suddenly, it surprises you, she is pregnant. You begin to ponder every so often what her babies will be like. How many she’ll have, and what they’ll look like.

As time flies, her belly seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Her due date is getting closer and closer. So, you start thinking about names and begin to plan out a safer space for them. Spring break comes along, and you’ve been out and about. You see her lounging around, sunbathing in the warm sun as the cool wind blows on her fur. 

It is now Friday, April 11, and you have plans for the day. You realize there are only two more days of spring break left. You get a call; you must go pick up your sister from her dad’s house. So, you grab your keys and head out the door. You don’t see the cat around, so look under the car, and nothing.

You clear your surroundings one more time, turn your car on, and leave. You pick your sister up and chat on the way home. As you are slowly driving through your neighborhood, you notice something odd. The cat is lying in the middle of the road. You cannot believe your eyes. 

Your heart drops into the pit of your stomach. Tears begin to well up and soon they fall like waterfalls. Guilt, hatred, and confusion begin to envelop you. After some time, you learn that she was struck by your neighbor next door. 

They take her away, and all that is left is what once flowed through her veins. The flashbacks of how she looked at that moment run through your mind over and over. You hate your neighbor and their ruthless driving. That paw that once comforted you was taken away from you too soon. Anytime that you walk out of your front door, you expect to see her by some miracle. 

You don’t, and all that echoes in your mind are her tiny, high-pitched meows. You’re not the only one mourning her. Her mom, who passes the neighborhood every so often, found the dried-up remnants of her baby. You watch as she smells the area and then lies down. 

Sad but true story, this is a little reminder to all who drive cars. Make sure to clear your surroundings before driving. Even if it’s just a quick look around your car, it can prevent accidents from occurring.