Once upon a time there was a girl who didn’t belong.

Her family was confused “where did she come from?”  They asked themselves.

She had few friends and often was excluded and made fun of.

The girl loved to read and the moments when home was not sweet, she hid in the branches of a welcoming old tree.

Way up there she would climb and see the other houses in the evening light.  When the seasons changed the homes did too.  Smoke from chimneys, twinkling of Christmas lights.  Although they looked warm and cozy, she knew they were not hers.

As the girl grew the need for warmth did too. She wanted the adventures she read and the cozy home of love.

She wondered if both dreams were possible to come true.

She found people over the years and acceptance.  The family she yearned for came in many shapes and sizes.  She also went on adventures, the solace of books she once had was no longer as meaningful.

Years later, the world went quiet.  She was loved but could not see them.  She dreamed of more adventures but could not have them.

Her home was sweet and cozy as she always imagined.  She sat outside and saw the houses bustle with more activity than usual in this new world.

She thought about all the books on her shelves and after years apart finally gave them the love the deserved.

She sat with them and her familiar until paw in hand, she said goodbye.

Her loved ones wished to give her comfort but couldn’t.  She longed for hugs but could not ask for them.

In her dreams though, her familiar returned she felt her paws and purrs and soon stories appeared.

In those stories hugs were given again, death was not forever.

Her new cat had her own stories and together they created a world where those who feel unloved are hugged every day, ghosts come out to play and a certain familiar leads a lost kitten home.