"Paws and Promises" by the Tale Teller Club. Read by Kayla.
Amelia leaned against the graffiti-covered doorway, her red dress gleaming like a needy beacon under the dull starless sky. Her eyes followed the faceless figure that passed by, blurring in motion, a metaphor for how fast life seemed to move on without her. This place brought back harsh memories, She should not have come.
She once believed in love. She thought she had found it with someone who had promised her the world. But like a fleeting shadow, he had disappeared, leaving her heart shattered in the bustling alleyways of clubland. She was left alone, standing still while the world blurred past her. Shrill noises of strangers invaded her sadness.
The following day Amelia returned, by accident rather than design. The alley was close to work and a shortcut to the café. It was so quiet in the day. A different space. One that offered shelter from the chaos of the city.
A small tabby with a crooked ear and a warm purr approached her as she sipped her coffee. She knelt, and as she touched its soft fur, she felt a warmth that had long been missing from her life.
The small gestures grew. Every day, a different cat would come to her, sensing her loneliness, and she’d find comfort in their quiet companionship. The cats didn’t ask for explanations or demand anything from her; they simply existed, providing a silent, mutual understanding. They reminded her of the simplicity of unconditional love—no expectations, just presence.
One day, Amelia decided to return to the alley with a bag of cat treats. The moment she opened it, a familiar tabby trotted up, meowing eagerly. Amelia knelt, feeding the cat from her hand, and for the first time in a while, she smiled—a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
In the weeks that followed, Amelia came to the alley every day. Her new companions would gather around her, each one unique in its own way but unified in their acceptance of her. With every purr, every nuzzle, and every brush against her legs, Amelia’s heart began to heal.
She realized that love didn’t have to come with grand promises or dramatic gestures. It could be found in the simple quiet moments of a purring cat or the soft touch of fur against her skin.
Standing in the doorway, she felt the rain begin to drizzle. She glanced up at the darkening sky, then back at the alley. This was her alley. The world outside might still blur past her, but in this moment, she wasn’t alone with her best friends.
Her heart once broken was now filled with a different kind of love. A love that was gentle, pure, and steadfast. Amelia knew she’d never stop loving; she’d just learned to find it in a different form. And with that, she stepped out into the rain, a bag of cat treats in her hand and a new purpose in her heart, ready to face whatever came next.
She had found her true love, after all.
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