Every morning at 8 o’clock, a stray cat shows up at my door. She’s always on time, as if she’s following a clock. She sits by the door and meows softly, waiting for me to open it. Once I do, she walks in calmly and heads straight to a mat by my desk. That’s her spot.
She doesn’t ask for food or play. She simply curls up on the mat and goes to sleep. And she sleeps deeply, not moving much until 4 in the afternoon. At times, she wakes up, stretches her legs, and lets out a few gentle quiet meows. Sometimes she scratches the mat or grooms herself for a bit.
Then she shifts to a new spot on the mat and goes right back to sleep.
The only thing she really cares about is the door. She doesn’t like it closed. If I shut it, she starts meowing until I leave it open just a little. She seems to need that open space—maybe it makes her feel safe. But once, she is fast asleep, I can close the door, and it doesn't seem to bother her.
By 4 in the evening, she’s wide awake. She stretches some more, grooms herself one more time, and walks out the door like she owns the place. Then she disappears into the rest of the day. Well. its still bright, sunny and hot outside, but I think the heat is bearable for her now.
I know she’ll be back the next morning at 8, just like always.
She’s not mine, but for those few hours every day, it feels like she is.