Late! In three minutes she darts into the bathroom, puts on makeup, grabs her coat and boots, then hops into the elevator.
Emilie jolted awake, already behind schedule. In a few minutes and with astonishing speed she managed to get ready: applying makeup while heading for the front door, glancing at the mirror, slipping on a trench coat and ankle boots. Three minutes after she woke, she was already inside the lift.
Stepping onto the street, she noticed a light September drizzle, but there was no time to fetch an umbrella. The alarm had deceitfully failed her duty. Emilie sprinted to catch the bus, terrified at the thought of missing work. Her boss was unforgiving; a tardy arrival meant a lost day and the threat of dismissal.
Imagining all the disastrous scenarios of that day, Emilie had already mentally said goodbye to her favorite clients, her bonus, and her remaining day off. The pedestrians, equally rushed, seemed lost in their own thoughts, indifferent to each other. Everything was grey and gloomy, and the drizzle only worsened it.
A few hundred meters from the bus stop, Emilie abruptly halted, spotting a soaked kitten beside a worn bench. It tried to meow futilely, the sound reduced to a silent sigh.
Emilie hesitated. Keep running or help the helpless creature? She chose to follow her heart, knowing she would have to face her bosss anger anyway.
Getting closer, she saw one of the kittens paws was twisted.
My God! Who did this to you?
With doubts gone, she couldnt abandon it. The kitten shivered, drenched to the bone. She lifted it gently with her white scarf and raced even faster toward the stop. She decided to take it to the office and deal with the situation later. Her compassionate heart wouldnt leave the orphan behind.
Her attempt to sneak into the office failed. Just as she was about to reach her destination, the sight of door number12 revealed her boss around the corner.
Dupont! An hour late! Where have you been? Whos supposed to do your work? Whats wrong with you?
The questions rained down, and her guilt rose. Trembling and speechless, tears welled up and bitterness filled her.
Look! she finally said, unbuttoning her coat slightly.
The kitten showed its small, sad head. Slightly warmed now, it let out a few plaintive mews.
Its paw is injured; I couldnt leave it in the rain It was alone
Tears streamed, words tangled, her hands shook. Still shaken, she considered gathering her things silently. But a warm hand stopped her. Her boss pulled out his phone, wrote an address on a scrap of paper, and ordered her to go there immediately to save the tiny injured paw.
Surprised by this change, Emilie took the note, tucked her cold, reddened hands into her pocket, and hurried toward the exit.
And dont come back here, he said.
Emilies heart sank, but before despair took over, her boss continued:
Today is your day off. Tomorrow as well. I congratulate you on your kindness and youll receive a bonus for your love of animals.
This boss, known to everyone as SébastienLeclerc, was often rumored to be notoriously harsh. Yet at the veterinary clinic the case was solved quickly: the kittens paw was not broken, just a severe sprain. While the vet bandaged it, Emilie recounted how she found the little animal and the unexpected intervention of her boss.
Laughing, the vet revealed he had known Sébastien since childhood. He had always been a hero for animals, bravely rescuing puppies from water and defending kittens from bullies. As an adult he financially supported shelters with his income, generosity that began with his very first scholarship.
However, with people, Sébastien had always kept his distance, a change that came after the tragic loss of his family. This revelation struck Emilie deeply, and she thought of Sébastien for the rest of the day, feeling the urge to encourage him.
When evening came, while the kitten rested comfortably on her bed, Emilie was setting up a space for her new friend. She had named him Minou, a name she thought perfect. Her tender moment was interrupted by a phone callit was Sébastien.
Hows our little patient?
Blushing, Emilie answered enthusiastically about the kittens condition and expressed her gratitude. Sébastien invited her to dinner and they talked all night.
What brought them together was mutual understanding and love for animals. Together they cared for Minou and soon shared a passion for rescuing animals in distress. Solitude ended for Emilie and her new fourlegged companion, finding joy and comfort in this new companionship.
