30November
Tonight the flat feels colder than the street outside, the streetlights in the terrace flicker on and off, but Im too preoccupied to notice whether its bright or dim. I sit by the window, nursing a mug of tea, and let my thoughts wander.
Victoriamy dear Victoriahas everything a young woman could ask for: a cosy onebed flat in Croydon, a solid job as a paramedic, a steady income of a few thousand pounds a month. Yet, despite all that, love seems to have abandoned her. All her school friends are now married with children, while she remains single and, at times, feels like an old maid. I watch her stare at her flock of fourlegged companions, wondering why shes no better off than they are.
Her parents died young, one after another, leaving her in the care of her grandmother, Margaret, who lives in a semidetached house in a leafy suburb. Victoria once dreamed of becoming a doctor, applied to the medical school in London, failed the entrance exam, and then took up a traineeship as an emergency medical technician. She now spends long shifts on ambulances, while Margaret has moved to a house of her own so that Victoria might have a chance at a love lifethough that chance remains elusive.
When Victoria was a child she wanted both a cat and a dog, but her mother suffered from a severe allergy to fur. The first time a teenage kitten named Cookie trotted into the kitchen, her mother suffered an asthmatic attack, and the kitten was promptly handed over to Margaret.
After the loss of her parents, a stray cat she named Whiskers showed up near a rubbish heap, and Victorias longing for a dog grew. Margaret, wary of the responsibility, refused. Instead, a scrappy stray they called Bulleta gaunt, flearidden puppy they found shivering beside the supermarket doorsbecame part of the family. I remember how she stuffed the trembling pup into her bag and rushed him home. Bullet was a whirlwind, darting around like a fighter plane, which earned him his nickname. He quickly befriended Whiskers.
Soon after, a neighbour in the flat next door, moving to a new apartment, abandoned a little dachshund they called Molly. The tiny, clumsy dog spent a week crying in the communal garden, trying to squeeze into the stairwell. When Victoria heard the commotion, she rescued Molly, tended to her chilled ears, and wrapped her in a soft knitted scarf. Molly, ever the dignified little lady, waddled about the hallway in the scarf like a tiny, stern governess.
One frosty morning, hurrying to her night shift, Victoria stepped out of the lift and a snowy, icecovered lump rolled under her feet. A shivering catlater christened Cassandra after Victorias own middle namelanded with a meow, its fur dusted with frost. She coaxed the feline into the lobby, fed it two cheese and ham sandwiches, and left a note on the wall: Please dont chase the cat away. Ill be back after my shift. V., flat15. The cat took to the name immediately, and soon she ruled the household with the poise of a seasoned matriarch, demanding order and cleanliness with the authority of a housekeeper.
In the park, Victoria rescued a tiny kitten she named Misty. Two crows almost snatched him, but she saved him. As an adult cat, Misty remained gentle and unobtrusive, never causing trouble.
All together, the five animals formed a peculiar yet loyal pack. Their presence made Victorias flat feel alive, even if she knew that not every potential suitor would appreciate such a lively menagerie. Margaret often warned her:
Darling, two dogs and three cats is a handful, even for a spacious flat. Young men these days fancy a tidy home without the extra fuss.
Victoria would reply with a sigh, Then perhaps he isnt the one for me.
Indeed, she once dated a bloke called Max, a charming swimmer who seemed perfect on paper. Max would occasionally walk Bullet and Molly, but the animals began to distrust him. Bullet snapped at him, Molly hid behind Victoria and barked, while the cats hissed at his approach. One evening, while Victoria was preparing dinner, Max stormed onto the balcony, his face twisted with anger, and struck Molly after her muddy paw landed on his pristine trainers. Bullet tried to defend the little dog and received a harsh leather leash across the snout. Victoria rushed out, snatched the leash from Maxs smiling face, and slapped him hard across the wrists.
Is that how you treat my pets? she demanded.
My dear, I was just teaching her not to trample on my shoes, he sneered.
Leave now and never return! she shouted.
Max laughed cruelly, Its not like Im living in a zoo, you freeloaders!
The incident shattered her hopes of a future with him, and for weeks the echo of his angry words haunted her.
A year later, just as she seemed resigned to a solitary life, fate introduced her to Andrew, a trauma surgeon who worked night shifts at StThomas. He arrived at the emergency department where Victoria was tending to a caraccident victim, and their eyes met. The spark was instant, as if a jolt had struck her heart. She had never believed in love at first sight, considering it something reserved for novels and films, yet here she was, convinced.
Andrew, using his position, obtained her phone number and called her the next evening. They began seeing each other, and his quiet, serious demeanor convinced Victoria that he was genuinely interested. She kept her pet family a secret, fearing it would ruin any chance of marriage.
After six months, Andrew introduced Victoria to his sister, Sarah, and her husband, taking her on a road trip to meet his parents in the Cotswolds. Their modest bachelor flat was tidy, but Victorias repeated explanations about visiting relatives and catching a flu no longer held up. The deception grew heavier.
Eventually, she confessed. She gathered all the animalsBullet, Molly, Whiskers, Cassandra, and Mistyand, with a heavy heart, took them to Margarets house. Margaret was outraged.
This is unacceptable, Victoria, she scolded. Andrew is an upstanding man; you cannot start a marriage with lies.
I cant live without them, Victoria pleaded. If I lose them, I might lose Andrew too.
Margaret relented, on the condition that Victoria would visit daily.
Andrews suspicions vanished, and he proposed, presenting a modest amethystshaped ring.
Theres no dowry, love, Victoria laughed, feeling oddly triumphant.
As the wedding day approached, the couple scrambled to finalize the guest list, the menu, and the dress. During a frantic packing session, Andrew opened a rubbish bin and a cascade of pet food packets tumbled out.
Where did these come from? he asked.
Never mind, Ill explain later, Victoria replied, deftly changing the subject.
Meanwhile, Margaret let Bullet and Molly out for a snowy walk, where the postwoman, carrying a pensioners parcel, struggled to close the gate. Cassandra, Whiskers, and Misty darted out, while Cookie stayed inside. The animals formed a lively procession down the lane, drawing bemused looks from passersby.
When Andrew heard the commotion at his doorstep, he opened the door to find a dachshund in a red romper, a hefty Labrador, and a parade of cats trudging through the fresh snow.
What on earth is this? he exclaimed.
Victoria, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, hid her face behind her coat rack and wept silently.
Yes, theyre all mine, she whispered, They were with my grandmother.
Bullet and Molly began barking at him, while Cassandra hissed threateningly.
Andrew, after a brief moment of shock, slipped on his coat, got into his car, and drove away. I called Margaret to calm her down, not wanting to add to the turmoil.
There would be no wedding, I thought, as I embraced the shivering pack. My lie had left a hollow feeling inside, my face swollen from tears.
A few hours later, a knock sounded at the door. Andrew stood there, laden with expensive bags of dog and cat food.
Dont close the door, Im just coming in, he said.
Moments later he entered, holding a dachshund dressed in a red jumpsuit.
This is my dog Nina, and thats Marge, he announced, pulling a ginger cat from under his coat. Will you let them join your crew?
Years have passed since that chaotic day. Victoria (now VictoriaMargaret) and Andrew often recall the incident with laughter, wondering how different their lives might have been had there been no amethyst ring, no secret stash of pets, and no stubborn pride.
Looking back, I realise that honesty, however uncomfortable, is the foundation of any lasting partnership. I have learned that trying to hide who we truly are only leads to more heartache, and that lovereal loveaccepts every part of us, even our furry companions. This lesson I will carry with me forever.
