Resentment washed over the young womans heart like a cold tide.
Edward shut the flat door slowly, heaved a sigh, and sank onto the sofa. Anger and confusion churned within him. A bitter quarrel with his beloved had just unfoldedall because of a stray kitten. The last half-hour had passed in a blur: sharp words exchanged, accusations flung, desperate attempts to defend himself. It felt as though the ground had vanished beneath his feet, leaving only a heavy ache in his chest.
Eleanor had always drawn him in with her gentle nature, her kindness, her open heart. Their conversations had been effortless, their bond seamless, as if they were two halves of a perfect whole. But lately, she had grown distant, consumed by the care of a scrawny creature shed found in the street.
At first, Edward had humoured herafter all, women had a soft spot for animals, especially the pitiable ones. Yet as days turned to weeks, her devotion took a troubling turn. Every conversation revolved around the kittens treatments, its needs, her fears for its fragile health. It seemed all the attention and affection once reserved for him had been diverted to this wretched, half-blind cat.
When the argument finally erupted, Edward spoke plainly: the kitten had taken up more space in her life than he had. Caring for it was a wasteof time, of money, of emotion. Why not adopt a proper, healthy pet, one that would bring joy to them both? Why pour so much into a creature with no hope of a full life?
Eleanor reacted with sharp defiance. She called him cold, heartless, blind to what truly mattered. The harder he tried to reason with her, the clearer it becametheir values were worlds apart.
It had been an ordinary morning when Eleanor first heard the faint, pitiful mewling outside her flat. At first, she thought it a trick of the wind, but curiosity drew her to the window. There, shivering on the pavement, was a tiny, bedraggled ball of fur. Without hesitation, she threw on her coat and stepped out.
The kitten was in a dreadful statefilthy, half-starved, with crusted eyes and sores around its nose. Its tail trembled as if struggling to keep balance. Carefully, Eleanor lifted it and carried it inside. She rushed to the vet, where she was told the poor thing suffered from a severe eye infection, one that would likely leave it blind.
“Youll have to fight hard to save it,” the vet warned. “The treatment isnt cheap, and there are no guarantees.”
But Eleanor refused to give up. She spent pounds on medicines, IV drips, and ointments. Every day, she patiently administered eye drops, cleaned its wounds, and fed it by syringe, for the kitten could barely eat on its own.
After a month, the infection clearedbut the damage was done. The kitten would never see again. Friends urged her to surrender it to a shelter, even suggested putting it down. Why prolong its suffering?
Yet Eleanor felt responsible. She had been the one to pull it from the gutter, to nurse it back from the brink. Now it relied on her completely. She resolved to keep it.
Thus began the new life of the little cat she named Oliver. The first days were fraught with struggleOliver bumped into walls, stumbled over furniture, struggled to find his way. But soon, his cleverness shone through. Within a week, he navigated the flat with confidence, avoiding obstacles and locating his food bowl with ease. A fortnight later, he mastered the litter box without a single mishap.
As time passed, Oliver revealed an extraordinary gentleness. The moment Eleanor sat down, he would leap into her lap, purring softly. If she was upset, he sensed it at once, pressing close as if to soothe her with his warmth.
All was welluntil one evening, when Edward confronted her. He called her foolish for wasting money on a blind cat. Why not adopt a healthy, pedigreed one instead?
His words cut deep. How could he speak so callously of a creature that had given her nothing but love? She tried to explainOliver meant more to her than any other pet ever could. But Edward only scoffed and left, muttering about wasted effort and pointless charity.
Resentment swallowed her heart. In that moment, she realised who the true blind one wasnot Oliver, who despite his limits brought joy to all who knew him. No, the blind one was Edward, who could not see the worth of loyalty and devotion.
The end of their relationship came quietly, without regret. Eleanor knew nowshe needed no man who could not recognise the value of kindness. But she had gained something far greater: a faithful companion, a little cat who would stand by her through every storm.
