Nothing bad happened today, nobody got hurt, but today annoyed me. I asked plenty of my friends if they wanted to hang out; they all said "No." My teacher put me in front of the class as an example of who not to be. I tripped and landed my knee in the mud on the way home. My mom cursed at me about all the work I hadn't done despite having been given all the time in the world to finish. I left the house in a rage from how annoyed I was by the day. So much so, that a lovely little cat crossing the sidewalk near me made me want to chase it, with its eyes peering at me as if saying, "You can't leave that anger, catch and throw that rage on me if you can."
Despite the soft glow of lamplight and the calming breeze of the night, yes, despite the shining stars, I ran after that cat, blind with anger for what I saw in it. I leaped into a bush for it, only to find a couple getting busy. The boyfriend lashed out at me, startling me, "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Throwing in a frantic threat as he pulled up his pants, "You get out and don't say anything or else!" Excluded and alone, I made my way out, pushing scabbed and torn branches out of my way, still on the lookout for that cat.
I could hear the girlfriend say to him, "You know you didn't need to use that much aggression toward him." Maybe I should listen to that advice. I continued poking around outside the bush for the cat until he was kicked out like me. The cat purred and rubbed its head softly on my familiar footwear. I smiled and appreciated the scenery around me: flowing clouds, a night sky filled with shining stars, and a little companion I had misjudged.
Once I pet the cat, it scratched me. It hurt and bled down my hand, but I knew I couldn't get mad at it. A scratch, a stumble, even a hefty fall down a cliff — if I'm alive and able to muster my will to bring myself back up — well, there's no reason to chase a cat around like it's the end of it all. I just need to pick my battles, and I know even if it's hell on earth, I'm too strong to let that keep me down and unhappy.
THE END
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