The Cat Who Spent Nine Lives Saving Me Chapter 15
[So Mom didn’t even check whether Cat was still breathing before starting to mourn?]
In the observation room at the animal hospital, I occupied a folding cot while Domino and Sunny, whose leg was in a cast, each had a recovery mat.
Domino moved to the sunniest spot.
[Cat is the boss. Of course Cat should protect you.]
I gently stroked his head.
“But you’re only a little cat. All you need to do is be happy. Mom should be the one protecting you.”
He gave me a helpless look.
[Mom should be happy, too.]
Nolan was charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, and felony animal cruelty. The warehouse surveillance footage and livestream recordings all became evidence. My parents begged me to retract my statement, but the protective order kept them outside.
When we were discharged, Rowan and Maeve came to pick us up. They also officially announced that they were dating. Ollie strutted between them with his head high, looking as proud as if he had arranged the entire romance himself.
On the way home, we passed my old apartment building.
Standing below and looking up at the roof, I had the hazy sense that I truly had jumped once, and that the pain of my bones shattering still lingered deep inside my body.
Domino let out an aggrieved meow.
[What are you thinking about now? Cat doesn’t have enough lives for you to waste them again and again. Go home and open a can of tuna.]
He jumped onto Sunny’s back, his tail raised like a flag.
[Home. Mom and stupid dog, keep up.]
Laughing, I hurried after them.
“I’m coming. Mom is taking you home.”