She rattled a small bag of treats and called Orion’s name over and over. Her voice cracked. Tears mingled with the rain as she pictured him cold, wet, or frightened somewhere. Days passed without a single sighting. Each morning, she checked her phone, hoping someone had left a message.
The silence of her voicemail cut deeper each time. Her house, once filled with Orion’s playful energy, felt like a hollow shell. She found herself listening for phantom meows at night. More than once, she awoke, heart racing, convinced she’d heard him scratching at the door.