New Year’s holidays have always been an eagerly awaited event. The end of the year, even if it wasn’t the best one, inspired faith and hope that the next would be filled with brighter colors and memories rather than framed by bitter disappointment. The atmosphere of decorated houses in the neighborhood evoked warm and fuzzy feelings deep inside, uniquely warming the whole body during these frosty, piercing days.

Standing in the spacious kitchen, swaying your hips slightly to the rhythm of an upbeat melody playing on the radio, you stirred the steaming sauce in the pot and waited for your husband, who was due home any moment. Your thoughts were filled with happy memories, the years spent together, and the hope that things would only get better.

After a while, the front door slammed, and you set the spoon down on the kitchen counter, eagerly heading to the hallway. There stood Leon, brushing fluffy snow from his hair and clothes, creating small puddles on the floor. Where was his scarf? Had he forgotten it at work again? But no, the scarf was in his hands, crumpled into a messy bundle.

"Hey... I, uh, well..." Leon carefully unfolded the scarf, revealing a tiny ginger kitten nestled inside. "He was sitting there all alone; I couldn't just leave him..."