Not A Sign

 I don’t really believe in signs. I would say I’m a pretty skeptical person. 

This cat though.

This cat, with those fluffy large black ears and a splash of white fur painted across his face, this cat made me wonder if signs existed. He stared at me as I locked up my brothers comic book shop, an annoying detour I had to take from my usual law office in downtown LA. I was already in a foul mood having to do this favor to help out, and in no mindset to indulge a stray cat stoically making eye contact with me from across the street. 

I put the keys back in my laptop bag, and studied the peculiar cat from across the street. He sat elegantly on a bus stop bench, eyes flashing in the setting sun.

I unexpectedly had a large workload sent to me this Friday evening, and was on my way back to the office after fulfilling my brothers request so he could go on a date. Not that it would do him any good, he was terrible with women and I wasn’t any better. If I tried, or maybe even cared to try, maybe I’d find someone. Who knows. 

I sighed and turned from the cat to walk towards my car when I heard a faint yet sharp, mew. I glanced towards the cat to see he’d jumped down from the bench and was now strolling towards me, right into oncoming traffic.

“Holy crap cat! No!” I yelled as he continued to make his way into the street, a car sweeping by where he had just walked. He was through the cross traffic side and almost to my oncoming traffic side when I jumped out into the street to grab him. 

This person isn’t me, by the way, a regular heroine and animal lover willing to risk his life to save a cat dumb enough to walk into deadly traffic? Definitely not. 

Here I was though, waving violently at a car to stop as I scooped up the cat into my arms. A red beamer slammed its brakes in front of me, honking like the usual road rage wrath filled Los Angeles drivers do. I just turned, dodging another car that had slowed but in that California roll type of way, to sprint to the sidewalk. 

“You have a death wish or something?” Someone clearly kind and thoughtful shouted from their car as I set the cat down on the side walk. 

“Damn. What’s wrong with you cat?!” I said as I brushed the dark cat hair off my expensive blue suit.

The cat simply sat again, its tail curled around its legs and stared up at me, eyes that sparkled with a mix of ocean blue and flecks of the brightest light green you’ve ever seen. 

“Okay well now I’m definitely late, don’t go running into the street anymore please.” As I turned to leave the cat suddenly ran in front of me. He was twining in between my legs with expert agility that seemed to be lacking a moment earlier as he ran through the traffic. He was looking up into my eyes, as if to say something I could never comprehend but desperately needed to. 

I continued trying to open my car door, but the cat wouldn’t let up, he’d nudge against me then ran a few steps away so urgently that I squinted into the setting sunlight and questioned what to do. He proceeded to run back, nudge me with his fluffy head, then trot away looking back at me expectantly. 

“What do you want? What is it? Geez I really don’t have time for this…” I lamented, as I closed my door completely, making sure it was locked. I turned to take several steps towards the cat, during which he excitedly trotted away further towards the street corner. His tail stood straight up in the air swaying happily now that I stopped my advances to leave. 

Maybe he’s going to his owners house… or maybe I just need to sweep him up and take him to my brothers later... I thought. My brother was a nerd and an animal lover with two dogs and one cat that already made it annoying enough to visit with my canine allergies and general dislike for untidy spaces.  

Either way, it seemed I was committed as I shook my head and followed the cat away from my car, a strange feeling settling over me that this was how my evening was suddenly ending up. Me, of all people, following a cat into the unknown, Ha! The thought of how much work I needed to do nagged at me in the back of my mind and I told myself I’d just give it a few more minutes until this cat lost interest. Which, in fact, didn’t happen.

About 20 minutes later the cat had finally completed whatever quest he was on, not letting me stop to contemplate my decision because when I did he would run back over to me and mew in protest. Was this cat seriously reading my mind? I had to be losing it, I mean I was definitely overworked, sleep deprived, and lacking in social contact, so maybe letting a cat decide my evening was going to be the most excitement I’d had in awhile. 

“A bar huh? You know what, let’s go with it, I could use a drink,” I said to the cat as he came to a stop right in front of an Irish pub, circling a few times at the front door then sitting and curtly looking up into my eyes again expectantly. I bent down to pet him, and to my surprise he let me, leaning into my hand and starting to purr calmly. His eyes had turned a deeper blue, the green darker in the evening light. I felt myself soften to admire his neatly groomed fur and slow lazy cat blinks. 

“Okay, I’lll go in, guess you’ll wait outside?” I gestured around the alleyway, reminding myself how stupid I probably looked chatting with this cat. He looked around, and suddenly ran off, turning a corner by a dim streetlight and didn’t so much as look back at me as I stood again and deeply sighed. 

The hell am I doing here now.. 

But, the cat was right. I did need a drink, and my lateness just meant I’d spend the night at the office, nothing new there. 

As I pushed the heavy door open, classic wooden booths greeted me as well as the usual tall bar stools and dim lighting. It did seem slightly empty for a Friday night and I reminded myself to just go with it despite the well of work stress that came surging to the top of my thoughts. The pub was decorated with knick knacks, witty bar signs, and an Irish flag towards the back. Several couples sat at the booths, so I strolled up to the bar, took a seat and ordered my usual whisky on the rocks from a surly looking bartender who eyed my fancy suit not bothering to disguise the less than impressed expression on his face. I didn’t care though, once I grabbed my drink I’d be back to work to go over a pile of paperwork and lament my lonely existence. 

“Rough week?” said a lovely voice at my side. I looked to my right and see an attractive woman around my age scoot the barstool out and gracefully sit. She crossed her legs in a mid-length pretty floral blue and white dress, setting her purse on the hook under the bar and flipping her long dirty blonde hair behind her back. 

“More like rough year…” I said, my voice trailing off as she flashed me a smile and my heartbeat quickened. Was I really quintessentially meeting a potential match at a bar like some rom com movie and not from some dating app or sad blind date set up from my family? 

“Hmm yeah mine hasn’t been so great either, hence this bar this night, and my already buzzed state,” she grins and points at her self then at the bartender to order. We chat for awhile, talking about what’s been ailing us mostly work and family grievances. 

Did that cat lead me here for this? Fate doesn’t exist, I tell myself, my buzz starting to come to the surface and scratch at my carefully built up walls. I’ve needed this and damn it feels good to be out and talking to a gorgeous face for once instead of staring at piles of paperwork and grim faced clients. Why couldn’t this be some strange twist of fate? Sure a cat lead me here but crazier things have happened right? The whisky went down smooth as I sipped and leaned into this woman, wondering where I should take the conversation next since it was probably clear by now I was interested. 

Just when I think of telling her how much I’ve enjoyed this banter, I catch a flash of a ring as she pushes stray hair out of her face, showcasing her dazzling smile. My stomach drops like a stone into the cold barren lake that is my desolate love life. I frown and pull away, the alcohol chipping away at my usual poker face and realize she notices the change. 

“So…”I say and glance down at her left hand. Her eyes follow my gaze. She opens her mouth then closed it, sighing deeply.

“Yes, well that’s part of my bad year as well…it’s complicated.” She says, taking a sizable sip from her vodka soda.

“I’m sorry.. hope it gets better,” I say in return, cursing myself for getting my hopes up. What did that cat know? Nothing and I was just a fool thinking it was a sign, I don’t believe in signs, never have and not starting tonight just because I have some odd encounter with a determined cat. 

I down the rest of my drink, noticing she has gone silent staring at the ice in her drink as if it will tell her what to say next. I spare her the awkwardness and throw a large bill on the bartop, the bartender eyeing me quickly with disinterest then going back to his other customers now starting to crowd into the small space. I stand and go still as she puts her manicured hand on my forearm. 

“It was nice talking to you..meeting you..good luck with, well, life…” she says quietly looking at me with a small smile as she squeezes my arm as if to say sorry this night hasn’t gone as you planned. 

I nod and say, “It was nice talking to you too, it’s hard to have a decent conversation sometimes these days, good luck to you.” I pull my arm away and give her all the smile I can muster as I turn and stride for the door. 

The cat isn’t outside in the darkness. I walk back to my car and drive home. For once, the call to work winning out. 

The next morning I awaken to a pounding headache due to a few more nightcaps had at home and my iPhone going off. My brother had left 5 voicemails and called 10 times...what the hell was going on? I sit up, wiping the sleep from my eyes and go to my voicemails, squinting as I look at the translation…Are you okay?.. The office….where are you..? 

My heart begins to echo in my chest now in concern and I quickly get out bed, dialing my brother.

“Hey! Oh my god I was freaking out!! So you’re okay? Dammit you didn’t pick up your phone and I was so worried…” he barely stutters the words out and I feel myself start to panic.

“Wait hold on, what’s going on?!” I exclaim, running my hand through my messy hair, trying to make sense of the situation. 

“Your office…it-it was on the news, a fire and some people…well they didn’t make it out and I know how you stay late all the time, almost every damn night it seems..” he stumbles through the words and they hit me like a semi truck.

“The office? A fire? No I was going to go in all night but..” I say and barely hear his next barrage of concern as I think of my peculiar night. 

“What floor?” I interrupt.

“Um, the 9th I think.. isn’t that yours? I’ve only visited you a few times but that’s where it is right? Your office?”

“Yes. That’s it.” 

“Holy crap… where were you last night? I’m so glad you’re okay…”

“I-I have to go,” I say as I throw on a passable outfit and check my disheveled hair in the mirror. 

“Wait what? I-,”

“I’m okay, I just have to go do something..let’s catch up soon okay?” I say hurriedly, heading towards the door, grabbing my keys and checking the time. 11:00am. Damn I had really slept in. Curse all that extra whisky I had feeling sorry for myself.

“Oh-okay…” my brother says as I click the end call button and lock my apartment. My mind races as I head to my car, but I have to go. I end up driving to my office to see the wreckage from the fire, the destroyed building I would have been in last night, my office floor where it started completely burnt to a crisp, and the deceased I couldn’t bear to look up just yet. 

As I stare at my building, the caution tape not allowing me any further and the news crews wrapping up their reporting on the incident, it slowly dawns on me where I want to go next.

“Somehow, I knew you’d be here,” I say as I as shut my car door and stare at those ocean blue eyes, now wide and inquisitive as he watches me glance at the passing traffic and dodge a few cars to run over to that bus stop across from the comic book store. I reach him and smile, feeling slightly crazy but at this point, to hell with it. He stands from his regal sitting pose and cocks his head at me, almost challenging me to ask. I reach down to stroke his soft head and he lets me, not breaking that careful stare. 

“It was you huh? Did you…save me?” I venture, smiling and not caring I was talking to this mysterious cat I just met last night. He simply lets me keep petting him, and gives me a small mew. I take a deep breath, and reach to cradle him into my arms, expecting a protest but to my surprise the cat settles into my embrace, like he was content to be there. Like it was natural for him to be there. 

“You know what, you were a sign weren’t you? I think so.” I say, grinning at the the cat who now purrs heartily as I hold him.

Do I believe in signs? The answer would have been no, a thousand times no, but maybe, maybe now I do. Life is like that isn’t it? Constantly challenging you, telling you you’re wrong. I was ready to be wrong, though, and here I was in a situation I never thought I’d be in, anxious for a change. 

Here I was, ready.