I missed you, Kitty

Harold walked out of the store with his bags, looking up at the sky as a soft breeze rustled his hair. It was a peaceful day, the kind that reminded him of his late wife. As he made his way to his car, a cute little kitten appeared out of nowhere and started meowing at his feet.

Harold bent down and smiled at the kitten. "Well, hello there little one. What are you doing out here all alone?"

The kitten looked up at Harold with big, curious eyes and then started rubbing against his leg. Harold chuckled and pulled out a piece of leftover chicken from his grocery bag. "Here you go, little guy. You must be hungry."

The kitten eagerly gobbled up the chicken and then looked up at Harold expectantly. Harold shook his head and chuckled. "Sorry, I don't have any more. But why don't you come with me? I have some cat food at home."

To Harold's surprise, the kitten followed him all the way to his car and then jumped in. Harold laughed and shook his head as he started the car. "Well, I guess I have a new friend."

As he drove home, Harold couldn't help but notice the kitten's fur patterns. They were just like his old cat Mary's. Harold hadn’t seen Mary since she ran away just before his wife passed away, but he had always hoped she would return. That's why he always kept cat food at home.

When he arrived home, the kitten followed him inside. Harold went to his pantry and pulled out a can of cat food, opening it up and setting it on the floor. The kitten dove in, purring contentedly.

Harold sat down and watched the kitten eat, lost in thought. "You remind me of someone, little one," he said softly. "Someone I lost a long time ago."

The kitten finished eating and then crawled into Harold's lap, curling up and purring loudly. Harold smiled and stroked the kitten's fur, feeling a warmth in his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time.

As the day went on, the kitten stayed by Harold's side. Harold went about his business, doing some chores and tending to his garden. The kitten followed him everywhere he went, and Harold couldn't help but feel a connection to the little creature.

Later in the evening, as the sun was setting, the kitten suddenly got up and walked over to Harold. It meowed once and then started walking towards the door. Harold followed the kitten, wondering where it was going.

The kitten led Harold to his wife's cemetery. Harold was surprised but also a little bit uneasy. He hadn't been to his wife's grave in a while, and the thought of seeing it again made him a bit sad.

The kitten stopped at a specific grave and curled up on top of it, closing its eyes and going to sleep. Harold looked down at the grave and felt his heart skip a beat. It was his wife's grave, and Mary, his old cat, was also sleeping on top of it.

Harold was overcome with emotion. He fell to his knees and started crying, tears streaming down his face. "Mary," he whispered. "You came back to me. I've missed you so much."

As Harold sat there with Mary, his mind raced back to the day she disappeared. It had been a particularly hard day, one that was filled with tears and heartache. Mary must have sensed his wife's passing and took off into the night. Harold had searched for her for weeks on end, but she was nowhere to be found. He had thought about her every day since, wondering where she could have gone and if she was okay. And now here she was, back in his life again.

He gently scooped her up and held her close, feeling her soft fur against his skin. The kitten woke up and looked at Harold, meowing softly. Harold picked up the kitten and held it close too, feeling a sense of completeness he hadn't felt in years. As Harold cuddled with his furry buddies, he looked down at his wife's gravestone and said, "I'm sorry I haven't been visiting as much as I should. I've missed you, and I've missed Mary too." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "But I promise I'll come by more often, and now that I have her back it’ll be like old times again." Mary meowed softly, as if understanding what Harold had just said. "And I'll make sure to bring your new grandkitten with me too," he said, looking right at the little ball of fur. Mary purred contentedly, happy to be back with her human.

As they walked back to Harold's house, he couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected reunion. He had never given up hope of finding Mary, but after so many years, he had resigned himself to the possibility that she was gone forever. But now she was back, and he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He looked down at the kitten in his arms, wondering what to name it. Standing at the front door, he suddenly knew. "I'm going to name you Hope," he said, smiling at the little bundle of fur. "Because that's what you and Mary have given me today."

As they entered the house, Mary hopped out of his arms, exploring her old surroundings. The kitten followed, peeking into every nook and cranny. Harold smiled to himself, realizing that he now had two new furry companions to care for.

Over the next few days, Harold settled into a routine with Mary and her kitten. He would wake up early in the morning to feed them, and then he would spend his days with them. He had been retired for years and didn't have much to do, so having the cats around gave him a purpose.

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. Harold's life had been transformed by the addition of Mary and Hope. He no longer felt lonely or purposeless. Instead, he had a newfound sense of joy and purpose. He spent his days caring for the cats, reading books, and tending to his garden.

As Harold sat on his porch one afternoon, watching Mary and Hope play in the yard, he thought about his wife. He missed her every day, but he knew that she would be happy to see him so content. He thought about all the things they had done together, all the memories they had made. And he knew that Mary and Hope were part of that legacy now. Harold took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the sun on his face. He had finally found happiness, after so many sad years went by. Soon Mary and Hope curled up next to him, and he knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be. Surrounded by the love and companionship of his furry friends, he knew that he would never feel alone again.