“Dusty!” I hear Harry scream from downstairs. I ran as quickly as i can down the flight of stairs, seeing Harry running towards the road just as i reach the bottom.
I ran after him, but stop dead in my tracks when i spot our beloved cat laying in the road, barely hanging on to life.
“ Dusty…no…” Harry says, broken-hearted. “Come on, let’s carefully get her out of the street and call the vet,” i instruct, as Harry seems too frozen to know what to do.
I pull out my cell phone and scroll through my phonebook as hastily as possible while Harry delicately picks up the small animal and carries her gently to the car. “Hang in there, dust. Mummy and Daddy will make it all better,” Harry whispers, stroking the top of the cat’s head with one finger once he’s settled in the passenger seat with the feline secure in his lap.
I drive at warp speed to the vet’s office, asking along the way, “What happened?” “I opened the door to get the mail and she ran out like she always does. There was a bird in the road that she was stalking and ready to pounce on when a car came and hit her,” Harry tells me, his voice breaking as tears stream down his face at having to relive that moment.
I reach over and rub his arm comfortingly, not knowing what else to do. The vet takes dusty immediately, leaving Harry and I in the waiting area for who-knows-how long.
Time is lost on me as i do everything in my power to console my devastated boyfriend. “I’m sure she’ll be ok…” i told him, silently hoping i wasn't wrong.
Eventually, the vet makes an appearance to tell i that Dusty has a broken leg and two broken ribs, but all in all she’ll be fine after a few weeks. The smile that lights up Harry’s face is like none i've ever seen before and is more than enough to make up for the heart-breaking sight of his tears.
