Chapter 2 — Rain and Headlights

The rain doesn’t stop that night. instead

It falls heavier, the kind that blurs the world and drowns out sound. Streetlights turn into halos in the mist, and my breath comes out in soft clouds. The kitten follows me as I walk down the narrow road home, her paws splashing in the puddles.

“Hey, go back,” I whisper, bending down. “You’ll get sick out here.”

She meows in protest, tail flicking stubbornly. A tiny rebel — the only one who ever refuses to leave me.

I smile a little. “Fine. Five more minutes.”

The streets are almost empty now. Cars rush by with long streaks of light, their tires whispering against the wet asphalt. I pull my jacket tighter. My shoes are soaked, my socks cold. But somehow, I don’t mind. The rain hides everything — my face, my tears, my shaking hands. In the rain, no one can tell the difference between crying and surviving.

When I pass the crosswalk, I spot the kitten again — except she’s no longer behind me. She’s in the middle of the road, pawing at something shiny that’s caught her attention.

“Hey—! No!”

I run before I can think.

My heartbeat drowns out the rain.

The light turns green.

“Kitty!” I shout, my voice cracking. She looks up, startled. The headlights hit my eyes — bright, white, blinding.

For one second, time stretches.

The world turns silent except for my pulse.

I push forward, scooping her up. Her fur is warm, trembling against my chest. I don’t even feel the impact right away — just the cold, the light, and a sharp sound that splits the night.

Then pain.

It’s everywhere. My body feels heavy, wrong, like it’s no longer mine. The rain keeps falling on my face, mixing with something warmer. My fingers twitch weakly, still curled around the kitten. She’s safe. She’s okay. That’s all that matters.

Someone’s shouting. A woman’s voice, scared.

I can’t move enough to look at her. The lights spin and fade in and out like a broken movie reel. My vision flickers between dark and colour, sound, and silence.

I try to speak, but all that comes out is a whisper.

“Don’t… cry. I’m fine.”

But I’m not.

I can’t feel my legs. I can’t feel anything except the small heartbeat pressed against my palm.

The kitten mews softly, curling into me as if to say she’s still here. I want to tell her I’m sorry — for leaving her alone in this world, for being too weak, too slow, too scared all the time.

My chest feels tight. My breaths come shorter, shallow. Somewhere, I hear sirens. Footsteps. A phone ringing. Distant, distant, fading.

“I guess this is it…” I mumble, barely able to hear my own voice.

There’s no one around to say goodbye to.

Just me, the rain, and a stray cat who never stopped waiting.

I used to think the world wouldn’t notice if I had disappeared. Maybe it won’t. But somehow, that doesn’t scare me now. The fear, the loneliness, even the pain — it all starts to blur.

The rain feels softer. The lights dim. My heartbeat slows until it’s almost peaceful.

My last thought drifts out like a sigh.

“All I wanted was… peace.”

The kitten purrs, small and steady.

Then everything fades into quiet

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