A Neighborhood of Black Cats
Flash Fiction
by Saniya Laners
About two weeks ago, I crossed the path of a black cat as I took my evening stroll. It reminded me of you. As it stalked across the road, it took a glance at me and Caspar. Caspar growled that low growl he always does, of course, but I hushed him right away.
In weeks since, I’ve noticed many sauntering up and down the quiet streets. I wonder if it's just the neighborhood, or maybe they’ve come around for good? It seems the last part could be so. Ever since you’ve gone, black cats have lurked around every forbidding turn.
I wish you could see how the sun left behind the greatest hues this evening. Pink and orange fading into purple and dark blue, like something out of a travel magazine. It made me think of how the warm colors mixed with the cool, it made me think of us.
The house has been very quiet for a long time. The only thing I've heard for a while are Caspar’s howls and now the stream of cold water spraying into the claw foot tub. You loved an ice cold shower. Tonight, I let the cool sprinkles drape my body like a silk dress.
Before I laid down, I placed a record in the player, our favorite one. As it spun and played that familiar melody, I tried to waltz around the room again, just as we used to. I couldn’t. I was never the one with rhythm, I guess it’s just another part of me that left along with you.
Hearing the chorus was more than I could bear, and as I moved to stop the song and place the record back in its slip, I was distracted by something at the window. A black cat. I tapped the glass and tried to shoo the damn thing away. It wouldn’t budge. It just watched, with a twitching tail. Another needle in my pot of luck.
I tapped the glass again. Nothing. It circled and licked its paw, blinking slowly. By this point, I was fed up and decided to let the stubborn creature be. It thumped its twitching tail against the thick glass. For some reason, I urged myself to listen closer. Thump, thump, thump, thump. The tune of our song.