Stray Serendipity

A guy named Ash was quietly reading in his favorite spot at the park-a tucked-away bench barely anyone walked past. Just him, the breeze, and a good book.

But then, after a few minutes, a cat appeared. Out of nowhere. Calm but confident. Like it had been looking for him. It brushed against his leg, purring softly, like it knew him.

Surprised but intrigued, Ash put his book aside and started petting it. The cat melted into his hands, clearly loving the attention. As his fingers trailed along its neck, he felt something-
A collar. Blue. With a name: Jinx. And beneath it, a phone number.

He glanced around, wondering if someone nearby was searching for a missing pet. Nothing. No one. So after a few beats of hesitation, he dialed the number.

It rang.

A voice picked up. A girl. Panicked. Breathless. "Who is this?! How did you get my number?!"

He tried to soothe the spike of worry in her tone, explaining calmly: "Uh-do you have a cat named Jinx?"

There was a pause.

And then-
A scream. A happy, relieved scream. "Ms. Jinx?! Oh my god-please, don't hurt her. I'll do anything, just-please."

They agreed on a place to meet. When they did, it was instant. That easy, strange kind of spark that you don't plan for but secretly hope happens. Numbers were exchanged. Conversations followed. One text turned into ten. A bond began to form-slowly, softly-with the girl's cat as their unexpected matchmaker.

"Maybe your cat is our fate.
Maybe she just knew we needed each other."