Ian stormed into the flat and stopped dead in the hallway, eyes fixed on his wife curled on the sofa, sobbing loudly. Natalie, are you home? he gasped. I cant make sense of whats happened. You were wailing so hard I couldnt hear a word. Then the phone died, as if on purpose. Whats wrong, Natalie? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Murphy is gone, Natalie whispered, her voice barely audible. Hes not here.
Gone? How? Ian asked, bewildered. Did he hide somewhere in the flat?
No. Your sister Violet said Murphy slipped out into the hallway when she and Michael stepped out for a walk. But you know, Ian, our Murphy would never run off on his own. Why would he go out into the cold, almost to his death? I think she let him out on purpose
What?! Ian clenched his fists. Where is she now? Wheres Violet?
She says she went to the shop I dont know. Ive been looking everywhere for Murphy, but hes vanished. No ones seen him. How could this be, Ian? Could a person really be that cruel, tossing a defenseless creature onto a winter street? Is that even human?
A person, no. Violet, yes. Shes done things like this before. Dont worry, today she wont be on our doorstep any longer. Good riddance, why did we ever let her in?
A month earlier
Ian was walking toward the bus stop when a gray shape caught his eye beneath a blanket of snow. At first he thought it was just a stone, but the stone shivered like an old Soviet fridge. The tremor was odd; no stone ever quivered from the cold, he thought.
Curiosity pricked him, so he left the pavement and drew nearer. Then he realized it wasnt a stone at all, but a tiny grey kitten, trembling in the frost.
Now thats something, Ian murmured, scratching the back of his neck. What are you doing here, little one? He knew the question was rhetorical; every stray animal out on a winter night is fighting to survive, and this kitten was no different. It made no cries, no pleasjust lay there, shaking as if resigned to neglect.
Ian gently lifted the creature, brushed snow from its fur, slipped it into his coat and, one hand clutching the kitten, sprinted to the bus stop as the trolley hissed by.
On the way home, a memory flared: Natalie had long wanted a striped grey kitten, but never found the time to visit the shelter. Fate, it seemed, had dropped one at his feet. When destiny gives, you take it.
Natalie, Ive got a surprise, Ian announced as he entered the flat.
Oh, youre spoiling me again, Natalie smiled in the hallway. One day its golden earrings, the next a new phone, a cinema ticket Whats this time? A skiresort voucher?
Even better! Ian beamed, unzipping his coat to reveal the kitten. Found him out on the street. You wanted a grey, striped one, didnt you?
Good heavens, Natalie exclaimed, cradling the shivering thing. Hes freezing! Put him here, Ill warm him up. You go wash your hands, get ready for dinner.
She stared at the kitten, a smile spreading. How handsome he is
Thus Murphy, the kitten, entered Ian and Natalies world. They debated names, tried many, and finally settled on the classic.
It suits him better than Tom or Lucas, Ian said.
Agreed, love.
The event happened at the end of November, as the first snow fell, so the kitten never learned the full harshness of a British winter street. Thank heavens, for many a creature would not survive such a trial.
In the two weeks that followed, Natalie and Ian grew fiercely attached to Murphy. They fell in love with him on day one, and the affection deepened each day. Murphy seemed to adore them equally, never being scolded when he knocked a remote off a dresser; he merely mewed, Ill be more careful, and sprang back onto the nightstand.
Everything was blissful until a knock sounded at the door one Sunday morning.
Who could be here at this hour? Ian rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock it read half past six. Outside it was still dark.
Maybe the neighbours? Natalie suggested. Did something happen to them?
Ill check.
When Ian opened the front door, his sister Violet stood there, not alone but with her fiveyearold son, Milo.
Hey, big brother, she said, beaming. Were here to stay a while. Mind if we come in?
I suppose, Ian began, but his mind was already racing.
Violet dropped her suitcase with a sigh. My husband threw me out. Hes with another woman, can you imagine? Ive got nowhere to go. If you dont mind, Ill crash here until I sort things out. We can ring in the New Year together. Its been four years since we really talked, hasnt it?
Ian stared at the suitcase, uneasy. Guests rarely arrived with luggage.
Whats happened to you? he asked.
My husband evicted me, Violet replied, shrugging. He found another wife. Im stuck, so Ill stay here for a bit. When my kids born, Ill need a place. I thought youd understand.
I know why were distant, Ian muttered. Its hard to build anything on lies.
Violet laughed. Ah, youre still holding onto the past. Everyone makes mistakes.
Ian wanted to argue but held his tongue; he didnt want to start the day with a fight, and Natalie certainly wouldnt approve of him lashing out at a sister who had just lost her home.
Five years earlier, their father had died, leaving a threebedroom flat in Manchester that was to be inherited by Ian and Violet. No other relatives existed. At that time Violet was pregnant, the father unknown. Their mother urged Ian to give up his share, saying Violets child needed a roof. Ian, then living in student halls, consented, hoping he could eventually buy his own place.
Years later, after the baby was born, Violet sold the flat to a man named Victor, who needed money for a new business. Its my flat now, she told Ian, Im doing what I must. Ian protested, but the money never appeared; it all vanished into business development. Their mother stayed out of it, insisting they sort it themselves.
Back then, when Ian was a schoolboy, he had once found a stray kitten on the street and brought it homeonly for it to disappear. He never suspected his mother, who had allowed the animal to stay because they lived in a cottage with room to spare. The only other suspect was Violet, who had a habit of disappearing cats. Hed demanded she reveal where shed hidden it, but shed only shrugged, denying involvement. After that, he never rescued another animal.
Thus the relationship with his sister was always strained.
When Violet arrived that morning, Natalie sighed, Ian, lets let her stay a bit. She cant be out on the street with a child. New Years coming; maybe youll finally make peace.
Ill let her stay, Ian waved his hand, though an uneasy feeling settled in his gut.
The next day Violet began complaining about Murphy. She claimed he kept her awake at night, sprawled on her sofa, stared at her oddly. Her son developed a runny nose, which Violet blamed on the cat.
Its definitely an allergy to your cat, she told Ian. My own cat, Basil, never gave me a sniffle.
Im not sure, Ian replied. Maybe the boy just caught a cold. Even if its an allergy, what can we do? Murphy is family.
Family, you say? Violet laughed. You think dragging stray animals home is normal? How does your wife put up with you?
Natalie, a lover of animals herself, interjected, I love pets, Ian. You, on the other hand, seem to bring them in constantly. Why do you think theyre a problem?
Violet snapped, Theyre a nuisance! My sleep is ruined, Basil cant rest. When you have your own children, youll understand.
The subject of children was a raw nerve for Ian. He and Natalie had tried for years without success; doctors offered no answers. Violet, aware of this, seemed to enjoy the sting.
I suggest we give the cat to a shelter, Violet said. Milo is my son, Im his real family. We cant keep suffering because of a cat.
I cant believe you, Ian roared. Murphy lives in his own home, unlike you. If you dont like him, youre free to leave. I didnt invite you here. Find another flat.
He thought, silently, of sending his own child to a shelteran idea he never voiced, fearing the inevitable fallout.
Violet pretended to calm, but continued to shove Murphy off the sofa, banishing him to the farthest corner whenever Ian and Natalie werent home. The cat endured, then began a quiet retaliation: a phone knocked off a nightstand, a tug on Violets favourite sweater.
Your cat destroys my things! Violet shrieked. Why keep an animal you cant control?
She eventually snatched Murphys soft toy, hiding it in her suitcase.
Im warning you, Ian snarled. Youre staying in my flat. Touch my cat and youll regret it.
Fine, fine, Violet muttered.
On New Years Eve, Natalie, still trembling, tried to explain something to Ian, but his mind kept wandering. He left work early, drove home, and the scene replayed.
Ian, are you home? he shouted, bursting into the flat, eyes falling on Natalie curled in the hallway, crying. I cant make sense of anything. You were sobbing, the phone died Whats happened?
Murphys gone Natalie whispered, her voice barely a crack. Hes not here.
How could he disappear? Ian asked, heart pounding. Did he hide in the flat?
No. Your sister Violet claimed he slipped out when she and Michael went for a walk. But you know, Ian, our Murphy would never run off. Why would he go out into the cold, almost to his death? I think she let him out on purpose
What? Where is she now? Wheres Violet? Ian demanded.
Probably at the shop I dont know. Ive been searching all day, but theres no sign of him. No ones seen him. How could this be, Ian? Could a person be so ruthless, throwing a defenseless animal onto a winter street? Is that even human?
A flash of memory returned: months earlier, a grey kitten had emerged from the snow, trembling, and Ian had taken it in. That kitten was now Murphy, the cat they loved.
Just then, a soft meow echoed at the front door. Ian opened it to find Murphy, shivering but alive, his fur frosted with ice. He had somehow survived the night and found his way home.
Natalie! Hes back! Ian cried, cradling the cat. Hes returned!
They warmed him quickly, fed him, and Natalie clutched him tightly, never letting go. Murphy purred contentedly, as if to say, I made it home, where Im loved.
Just a minute before the New Year, Natalie whispered, Will you pop the champagne?
Ill crack it open! Ian replied, uncorking the bottle, spilling sparkling wine into glasses just as fireworks burst outside.
They say the way you greet the New Year determines how it will be. From that night on, Murphy stayed with his owners, and, unnoticed, sensed the new life blossoming in Natalies heart.
The dream faded, leaving the flat bathed in the soft glow of fireworks, the cat purring, the couple holding each other, and the promise of a fresh beginning.
