Reflections of Resilience

Chapter 2: A Persistent Presence The cat from the fog was a sleek, tortoiseshell named

Willow. She carried herself with quiet confidence and moved with the grace of flowing

water. Willow didn't flee when Finn showed no reaction; instead, she did the unthinkable.

She approached the broken cat and carefully, meticulously, began to groom the matting from his

spine. Finn stiffened, a low growl catching in his dry throat. It was the first

coherent emotion he had felt in months—an instinctual protest against touch. But Willow was gentle,

her rough tongue scraping away the sorrow-laden filth. She didn't ask for food,

she didn't demand attention, and she never spoke of the fire. She simply showed