Part 1: The Morning My Dog Wouldn’t Stop Scratching at the Door

have found the cat weeks ago, maybe longer. A pregnant calico seeking shelter as the weather cooled. Lily had always noticed animals others overlooked. She talked to them, worried about them, imagined stories for them.

She must have been sneaking out here with her little backpack, carrying scraps of food, bowls of water, and pieces of her own clothing.continue reading …