“Maybe he’s just mourning,” one of the nurses said. “Animals feel loss too.”
But there was something more – something deeper. It was as if he had lost not just a friend, but a purpose for being.
Then one evening, just before closing time, something extraordinary occurred.
Whiskers, who had been curled up on the couch by the fireplace, suddenly lifted his head. His ears twitched. His entire body tensed for a moment, and then he leaped down and trotted down the hallway.
Curious, I followed.
He led me to the front entrance, where a young man was standing hesitantly, looking around as if unsure whether he should enter. He was in his mid – twenties, with weary eyes and a nervous air about him.
The instant Whiskers saw him, he emitted a low, rumbling purr – a sound we hadn’t heard since Mr. Delano passed away.
The man noticed the cat and crouched down, his eyes widening. “Hey, buddy,” he murmured and extended a tentative hand.
To my surprise, Whiskers pressed his face against the man’s palm and rubbed against him like an old acquaintance.
The man looked up at me. “I… I think I might know this cat.”
My heart raced. “How?”
He hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. After a few swipes, he found what he was seeking and held it up for me to see.
It was an old photo. Of him. When he was a little boy.
And in his arms, nestled against his chest, was a kitten – black and white, with the same piercing green eyes as Whiskers.
“My grandfather used to have a cat that looked exactly like this,” he said softly. “His name was Scout. I was just a kid when he ran away. My parents told me he probably didn’t survive, but Grandpa always said he was still out there, waiting for us.”
My throat tightened. “Your grandfather… was Mr. Delano?”
The man nodded and swallowed hard. “I hadn’t seen him in years. I didn’t even know he was here until I received the call about his passing. I came to see if there was anything left of him, anything that might still feel like home.” He looked down at Whiskers, and his voice was thick with emotion. “I think I just found it.”
