Urban Sonnet - Vanished

There he sat trembling, cowering in fright, Twilight's pall submerging shadowy form; His green eyes distinctive, piercing the night, Body arching with each drop of the storm. My wife signaled me: "Let's help keep him warm." She scooped him up, took him to our small dorm. Cats like to drink milk; he lapped up his bowl. Contentedly purring, stretching out s-l-o-w, The milk and the warmth restoring his soul. Smiling peacefully, our hearts aglow, We turned in for the evening, lights down low--- Our house guest all snuggly, from head to toe. Came the morn, bad news perched at our front door, The cat had vanished, no trace anywhere; Left us there crying, heartsick and heartsore. My wife looked at me: "It's too much to bear!" She fell to her knees, voice soft and so fair: "If it's all meant to be, why should I care?" Then as we gave up our last ounce of hope, In pranced the cat with a mate: He'd eloped! February 16, 2018