A faint squeak reached Roberts ears. Looking down, he saw a tiny kitten that a cat had been fiercely defending from a dog
He stumbled on the slick autumn sidewalk, his legs refusing to obey, while a hazy fog from the alcohol hed drunk clouded his mind. Inside, everything felt as dark as the outsidelike someone had smashed the streetlights of his soul.
In his hand he clutched a freshly opened bottle, about to take a sip, hoping the spirit would pull out at least a fraction of the pain that choked him from within. The same question haunted him again: Why me? He no longer had the strength to search for an answer.
Robert was a brilliant surgeon. His golden hands had saved lives countless times, even in the most hopeless cases. He worked himself to exhaustion, fighting for each patient to the bitter end. Every operation was a battle for health, destiny, hope.
Newspapers wrote about him, news programs featured him, and everyone in the city knew his face. Yet fame meant nothing to him. He craved only the chance to help. He turned down offers from prestigious clinics, refused generous feesremaining loyal to his hometown. His wife despised him for it. She shouted, blamed, accused, but Robert stood his ground.
One day she learned again that he had rejected a position at a capitalcity clinic. Word for word, another heated phone argument erupted. She screamed that he was ruining the family. Their son was in the car, but even his presence didnt halt her barrage of accusations. She didnt see the truck pulling out of the yard.
Crash. Brakes. Court. Funeral. Emptiness.
He squeezed the bottle, almost taking a drink, when a bark cut through the air. Frowning, Robert scanned the surroundings, trying to locate the source. A strong wind slapped his face, yet he noticeda teenager with a fighting dog was harassing a cat under an arch beside a house.
The cat pressed against the wall, hissing, while the boy egged the dog on with excitement:
Get her! Take her down!
The dog lunged, barking, leapingclearly thrilled by the cruel game. Yet the cat, terrified but defiant, swiped the dogs nose with a paw. Robert narrowed his eyes; something felt off about the scene. He saw the cat sheltering a tiny bundlethe kitten.
Are you insane?! Robert shouted, flinging the bottle aside and, slipping on the puddles, sprinted to intervene.
The boy turned. Seeing the rushing man, he quickly wrapped the leash around his wrist and stepped back. Robert reached the cat, lifted the battered animal, and pressed it to his chest. It struggled, but then a faint squeak reached his earsunderfoot, the kitten.
He gently scooped up the infant and placed it beside its mother. The cat immediately fell silent.
Why are you tormenting the dog? Do you want it to tear apart a defenseless cat and its kitten?! Robert glared at the teenager. If you were my son, Id strap a belt on you so tight you couldnt sit! Wheres your father? Is he teaching you this?
The boy lowered his gaze and backed away.
Dad no, he whispered barely audible.
Robert tightened his grip, hearing a painladen tremor in the boys voice. In the dim light he spotted a tear on the teens cheek. Stepping closer, he asked more calmly:
Do you understand what youve done?
The youth nodded, hiccuping.
My mother just gave us Rex. I only wanted to test what commands he knows. Im sorry. It wont happen again, he said, turning away and leading the dog off.
Whats your name? Robert asked unexpectedly.
Arthur, the boy replied, pausing to look at the man cradling the cat and kitten.
Dont repeat that mistake, Arthur. Got it?
The teenager gave a mute nod and disappeared around the corner.
Robert shook his head and hurried home, a few minutes away. Clutching the rescued family, he climbed to the third floor, slipped through the doorway without shedding his coat, and gently set the new occupants on the couch.
He examined the catno visible wounds, but one paw clearly injured. He stroked it, and the animal trustedingly leaned in.
Youre beautiful, and youve got a little one, he murmured, smiling.
Opening the fridge, he took out pâté, placed it on a saucer, and carried it to the room. The cat and kitten devoured it hungrily. After the meal, the mother began licking the baby, and Robert couldnt help but smile.
Youre gentle Ill call you Laska from now on, he whispered.
Carefully transferring them into a sports bag, he threw on his coat and rushed the pair to the 24hour veterinary clinic down the street.
We need a vet right now! he shouted as he burst through the door.
Good afternoon! What happened? a young woman replied, stepping forward.
Here, Robert placed the bag on the table and delicately lifted Laska out. She seems to have a broken, possibly displaced, leg. I found her on the street with her kitten.
Lets take a look, the veterinarian said, taking the cat from his hands and beginning an exam. Well need Xrays and some tests. Itll take a bit of time. You can wait here; afterward well transfer her to a shelter.
What? To a shelter? My Laska? Robert protested. No, shes mine! And the kitten is too!
Alright, alright, the woman said placatingly. Please wait here, have a seat.
She disappeared with Laska into an adjoining room. A minute later, a female assistant emerged, taking the kitten for examination. Robert stayed behind.
An hour passed before the kitten was returned.
Weve checked the basics; the baby is healthy. Only the eyes are a bit inflamed; well need a few days of drops, the assistant said, handing the kitten back to Robert. Thank you!
For what? he asked, puzzled.
For not walking by and helping save the mother and her child, she answered with a warm smile before leaving, leaving Robert alone with the kitten.
Two more hours later the veterinarian returned with Laska.
We performed surgery; shes under anesthesia now. The fracture was indeed complex and displaced, the doctor said, studying Roberts face. You look familiar I realize youre Robert Alexandrovich, the surgeon from the city hospital.
Will she recover? he asked anxiously, glancing at his charge.
Im confident, she replied, nodding. The operation went well, the bone is fixed. The leg will heal. You literally pulled her from the brinkthank you!
How could I have passed by? That boy and his dog almost tore her apart, yet she fought with the last of her strength to protect the kitten, Robert muttered, stroking Laskas mottled head.
The boy? the vets face paled. And the dog was a boxer?
Yes Do you know him? Robert asked, taking the carrier and settling the cat inside.
Hes my son, the woman said, her smile fading. After his fathers death he started hanging out with the wrong crowd
Im sorry, I didnt know, Robert replied quietly. Did you give him the dog?
Hed been begging for one, coaxing his husband. After the father died I thought a puppy might ease his grief Sorry for unloading this on you. Come back tomorrow for a checkup. Youre fortunatereal, threecolor happiness has entered your life, she said sadly, then left the consultation room.
For the next two weeks Robert tended meticulously to his new companion: feeding on schedule, bringing her to checkups. The kitten turned out to be a boy and was named Caesar.
They settled quickly in the apartment, and by the second night the little family was sleeping peacefully together. After his shifts, Robert would rush home, occasionally stopping at a shop for treats for his beloved animals.
Laska greeted him at the door with a loud meow.
Colleagues soon noticed the change: Robert smiled more, stopped avoiding his home, and seemed revived. He even showed pictures of Caesar and Laska, eagerly recounting the kittens antics.
Every clinic visit became an excuse for Robert to linger with Veronika Arturovna, Laskas attending vet. Soon her name shifted from the formal Veronika to the friendly Nika.
She confided in him about her strugglesraising a teenager alone while working fourteenhour shifts. Nika loved animals, but her late husband was allergic, and her son longed for a dog.
Problems arose with Rex, their boxer, whose behavior was erratic. Robert found a trusted dog trainer, and soon Rex became obedient. Arthur began visiting Robert often, even stopping by his place.
The three of them met Nika after her shifts, taking trips to the countrysideRobert owned a dacha. After three months, he proposed to her, and she accepted.
The wedding was a modest home ceremony, surrounded by close friends. Laska and Caesar were initially wary of Rex, but the dog showed patience, lying calmly at Roberts feet, allowing the kitten to approach and nuzzle his side.
Rex lifted a lip in a mock growl, then, reconsidering, simply sniffed Caesar again. The kitten purred contentedly and settled nearby. The dog, a little embarrassed, accepted the new friendship.
Caesar tamed him, Nika said, beaming. You gave him a home, love, and warmth.
No, theyLaska and Caesarbrought me back to life, Robert countered, petting the cats back.
She arched, then rolled over, exposing her white belly to his hand. A satisfied purr echoed.
Because of Laska I met you and now we have a real family.
The cat opened one eye, glanced at her humans, and her whiskers twitched as if smiling in gratitude. Her purpose was fulfilledshe had brought happiness into the house.
A Soft Whimper Reached Robert’s Ears: Glancing Down, He Spotted a Tiny Kitten that a Mother Cat was Courageously Shielding from a Dog…
