1001 Love Stories Darker

strays (38) 🎄

Max burst in the door and nearly falling in holding a kitten.

"John I found a cat!" He says excitedly and I just look at him.

"Max. No more!" I tell him and he pouts.

But he was out in the cold and its twelve days to Christmas.

He whines.

"Max we have 4 dogs. 3 cats 2 snakes."

"And a little kitten who needs a family?" He says in the tone of the song.

"No Max." I tell him.

"Fine then Im leaving too!" He says and I frown.

"Fine. Leave I'm done giving in to your need to pick up strays. You should have stopped with Bruno." I say and he glares.

"I should have stopped with Leo." He says back and it hangs in the air for two seconds before we both realize what he said.

"What?" I say.

"No John. I didn't; that came out wrong." He says and I just turn away from him.

"No. You're right you should have." I tell him and he sets down the cat to approach.

"No John. I'm sorry. I; you're not a pet to me. I don't see you as a stray." He says and I only smile.

"You need milk. Im gonna go get some." I say.

"No lets go together." He says and I shake my head.

"No. You need to take care of the cat and give him a cute name." I say smiling and he still looks hurt.

But I pull his head down to me. Kiss his forehead and then leave.

*

It was almost a year ago. When he picked me up.

I was jobless homeless and probably looked like a crack attic. I didn't have the courage to panhandle so I just sat in the snow.

Until a man with a dog passed and his dog wouldn't leave me alone.

"Sorry, he isn't usually like this." He says and I pet the dog.

"Its ok." I say and he smiles.

"Can I buy you a coffee?" He asks and I smile.

"Ok." I say and we've been together ever since.

*
He had to mean it that way right?"

I know he can say stupid things sometimes and I know he loves me but;

I stop at the door of his apartment.

I don't want to be another stray.

*

I smiled softly as I checked into the motel.

Before sitting on the bed and thinking. He should be calling any minute.

I think as my phone starts to ring. Over and over again.

Enter spliced with pleading texts.

I know he loves me but for right now I just want to be alone.

*

I stood in the store deciding weather I wanted cup noodles or hot pockets for dinner.

"John?" A voice calls out and I flinch before turning around.

Standing in front of me was Micheal who smiles.

"Micheal its been forever." I say and he nods.