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“Liho? Are you sure?” A playful smile lay on your lips as you gently scratched the black cat’s head.
Natasha chuckled, stopping in front of the stove to check on the ongoing breakfast. “What? It’s cute.”
You leaned with your back against the counter with Liho in your arms, watching as the cat’s little nose smelled what Nat was cooking. The sunlight coming from the window made her fur shine.
“It does suit her in a way.” You hummed.
Natasha made her way to you, careful fingertips gliding through the cat’s fur until it touched yours. A shy smile came to her lips as her eyes slowly raised up to meet yours.
It’s been four months, yet your heart never failed to swell with love every time she looked at you.
Natasha moved her fingers from the cat to your arm, and then up to your cheek. Leaning in, she placed her lips on yours. “She’ll keep you company when I’m not home.”
Holding the ball of black fur with one arm, you raised your free hand to run through her red curls. Smiling softly as you saw her eyes closing at your touch. “I love you.”
Her eyes shot open, you heard her sharp intake of air. Your thumb moved down to her cheek to brush away a small stray tear.
A bright smile appeared before she pulled you in for another kiss, deeper this time. Only pulling away when an annoyed ‘meow’ came from between you.
“I love you too. So much.”
Natasha turned off the computer after ending the call with Carol and Rocket. She felt her head throbbing in pain and her eyes stinging as she closed them, letting her body slump on the chair.
After two minutes she glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it read 3:27 AM. She furrowed her eyebrows, swearing she ate breakfast not more than three hours ago.
She forced her body to move, reaching the kitchen with the black cat close behind her. “Are you hungry, котенок?”
Excited meows were her answer. Natasha filled the cat’s bowl of food with a small smile, sitting down at the table as she waited for her to finish.
Tears welled up in her eyes when, after eating, Liho climbed up on the chair next to Natasha. Your chair. Where you would usually pull the cat up on your arms and massage her fur.
A choked sob escaped Natasha, burying her face in her hands as she cried silently. “I miss her too.” She confessed in the air.
She bit her lip as she got up, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Kneeling down in front of the cat, she planted a sweet kiss on the animal’s head. “I’ll bring her back to us, I promise.”
Snow crunched beneath your feet, with white puffs of air leaving your lips as you walked. You closed your arms around yourself, your hands gripping onto the hoodie to try and preserve the warmth.
You smiled as you finally reached your apartment, feeling the relieving warmth of the heater. “Darling, I’m home.” You called out as you locked the door.
A soft pitter-patter of paws on wood could be heard coming toward you, and you kneeled on the floor to greet her.
“Hi.” You picked up the black cat and scratched her soft fur.
“I have something for you.” You told her excitedly as if she understood every word. And being the only company you had these days, maybe she did.
You pulled out a small red collar, with the name Liho printed on the front of the silver pendant and your cell number on the back. She waited patiently as you closed it around her neck, the red mixing beautifully with her dark fur.
“There, now we can say you’re officially Liho.” You told her proudly.
You only acknowledged the tears streaming down your face when you felt your smile shaking. Your chuckle turned into a sob as you picked up the cat and held her close to your body, your tears staining her fur.
Natasha brought you back to a world without her. You felt an emptiness inside you that suffocated you every day.
And every day, Liho came to you, rubbing herself against your ankles as you started sobbing out of nowhere when cutting vegetables, or watching TV.
And every day, you clung to the only piece of Natasha you had left.