My Shadow

Act of redemption.

Oh Star

My purring panther

And rescued cat.

Still remember

Our first meeting

When one of the kids

In my building

Brought you

Home.

Nervous ball of energy

Seeking shelter

Anyplace dark.

Yet purred

Like a jumbo jet

Taxiing for take-off

When petted.

Bouncing around

For various reasons

Between homes

Before I welcomed you

With open arms.

For no creature

Big or small

Shall be abandoned

Without love.

Vowing

I will never raise

My hand or voice

In anger

Against you.

Upon hearing

The abuses

Committed against you

Star.

Knowing the damage

That abuse takes

From one's soul.

Instead

Use love and patience

As my tools of healing

And growth.

Like the trail of kibble

To draw you

From beneath the cistern

On your first night

In our apartment.

Final pile of kibble

Gently resting

In the palm of my hand

To gain your trust.

My reward

Of your tentative kiss

Meant more to me

Than anything else

I have experienced

Before.

Every time

You snuggle against me

Is a victory for us

Over hate and anger.

Thank you Star

For this special celebration.

Author's Note

Almost 20 months have passed, since that first meeting with Star and my offering her shelter, with Squeak (a tomcat) and Venus (a queen), my other two cats. As the title entails, Star follows me, all over my apartment, especially to the bathroom, where I have a scratch post for the cats and her favourite play area, the bathtub. Daintily places one of the paper balls that I created for the cats, into the tub and chases it, for her amusement. Often sounding like the agitator in the washing machine, as she laps around the tub. Often she places the paper ball, beneath my bed, in the nest that she has created, before falling asleep. Or her odd quirk of drinking the warm bath water, while I am taking a bath. Often, Star climbs down a leg, to reach the water level.