Torn (solo)

THEN

“NO! Stop! Wait! Wait for me! WAIT!”
A silver cat screamed as her paws pounded the pavement behind the retreating car. The road tore at her paws and her lungs burned as tears streamed down her face. Finally her body collapsed. “You forgot me,” she sobbed.


NOW

Bianca yawned and stretched as she stepped out of her den, taking in the last bright colors of leaf-fall. She’d always loved the lake this time of year, the air crisp and cool and the squirrels running with reckless abandon between their food stores. But this year, she noted with annoyance, there were intruders on her turf. Dozens of cats swarmed about, and they seemed to be claiming this place as their territory. Rolling her eyes, the old silver loner padded off to hunt in the opposite direction. The sooner the strangers left, the better.