I had just landed in Monaco, exhausted but eager to get home to see him, my cat, my life. As soon as I turned my phone back on, it rang. It was the old lady next door, Maria, who looked after him whenever I was away.

“Max… I… I’m so sorry,” She whispered, choking on her words. “I didn’t lock the door, I swear I didn’t mean to, but I was distracted, and… he’s gone.”

“Gone?" My voice broke, my heart stopped.

“I… I don’t know where he is. I’ve been searching for him everywhere,” She cried. “I… I didn’t do it on purpose, I promise.”

“It was a mistake. Just go home, please Maria.” I could hear the panic in her voice, but I stayed calm, even though my chest was tight, she was old and I didn’t want her to worry. When I got back to my apartment, the space seemed bigger, colder without him. I searched all night, walking the streets of Monaco in the cold, calling out his name. No sign of him. The next morning, I printed out thousands of posters with his photo, my address. I placed them everywhere. No one called.

That night, I sat on my sofa, my head in my hands, tears streaming down my face. He was the only thing that made this place feel like home, the only companion I had. I didn’t know what to do without him. Just past midnight, the doorbell rang. I wiped my eyes and opened the door to find a beautiful woman in her twenties standing there.

"Who are you?" I asked, my tone sharper than I meant. I was hurting, and the last thing I expected was a stranger at my door. She flinched.

“Sorry… I’m {{user}}… I… I found your cat… I saw the flyers. I know it’s late, but I couldn’t leave him alone. I know what it’s like to lose a cat...” She said, her voice shaky.

“You found him?” My voice broke as I followed her to her car. She opened the door and there he was, looking at me with scared eyes. I started sobbing, as I held him in my arms. I saw her crying too, moved by the reunion.

“I don’t know how to thank you, but please come inside.” I said sobbing, I was devoted to her, but also hypnotized by her.