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Hello everyone

When we finally got home after being away for almost a month, the first thing we wanted to do was reconnect with our two cats, Salmon and Snow. We had left them in the care of our eldest son, and I was worried they might be upset with us for being gone so long.

As we walked in, the familiar smell of home hit us, and we were eager to see our furry friends. In the living room, there they were, Salmon and Snow, eyeing us cautiously. It was like they were trying to figure out if we were the same people who had left them weeks ago.

I bent down to say hi, unsure of how they'd react. Salmon, the bold one, sauntered over with his tail held high, while Snow hung back, looking a bit skeptical. I could tell they were giving us the once-over, probably wondering where we'd been and why we left them behind.

As we settled on the couch and started catching up with our son, the cats kept a close watch on us. To break the ice, we grabbed their favorite toys, hoping a bit of playtime would help smooth things over. Feathers flew through the air as Salmon leaped around, and even Snow, who had been standoffish, couldn't resist joining in.

Gradually, the tension melted away, replaced by the joy of being back together. It was clear that, despite our worries, the cats were willing to forgive our absence in exchange for some quality play and attention. In that moment, surrounded by the unconditional love of Salmon and Snow, we felt the true meaning of coming home.

What worried me the most upon returning home was the sight of dried tear stains around Snow's eyes. I carefully attempted to wipe them away, but all I encountered was the hardened fur encircling his eyes. Concerned, I decided to take both Salmon and Snow to the veterinarian this morning.

At the vet's office, the doctors delivered the unsettling news that Snow's eye had likely been scratched, possibly in a fight with an outdoor cat, resulting in a corneal laceration. The blood vessels in his eyes had burst, leading to constant tear flow. The vet treated Snow and prescribed eye drops to aid in his recovery.

Reflecting on this, I recalled a call from my eldest son last week. He mentioned opening the door, only for Snow to dart out of the house unexpectedly. Snow remained absent for the entire day, not returning home. It became apparent that there might have been a skirmish with stray cats in the neighborhood during his excursion.

The revelation weighed heavily on my mind as I considered the challenges Snow faced while we were away. I couldn't help but feel a mix of guilt and concern, realizing that our absence might have exposed him to dangers he wouldn't have encountered under our watchful eyes. Now, with the prescribed treatment underway, I was determined to shower Snow with the care and attention needed for a full recovery. It was a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of outdoor adventures, even for our seemingly resilient and independent feline companions.

Later in the evening, I decided to take both cats out for a stroll in the now overgrown backyard, where the grass had grown wild during our absence. Despite the untamed surroundings, Salmon and Snow appeared lively and content, happily munching on the grass. I kept a close eye on them, mindful of their previous escapades, fearful that they might decide to dash away from the safety of home.

For about 30 minutes, I enjoyed watching them explore and play, but eventually, I coaxed them back indoors. There were still plenty of tasks demanding my attention, and the neglected state of my flower garden called for immediate care. As I stepped into the backyard to survey the damage, I was relieved to find that, against the odds, the flowers I had planted hadn't succumbed to neglect.

It seemed that the sporadic rain showers during our absence had worked in my favor. The garden was alive with vibrant blooms, a testament to nature's resilience and the hardiness of the plants. Although it would take many more days of dedicated effort to restore everything to its former glory, the sight of the blooming flowers filled me with a renewed sense of hope.

As I began tending to the garden, I couldn't help but reflect on the parallel between the flourishing flowers and the resilience of our household, including our two feline friends. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, there was an underlying strength that pushed through, reminding me that with care and perseverance, even neglected corners could blossom once again.