“We’re gunna get you,” the voice inside my head said. In my head now, but I had heard it out loud before. I remember my old life, it was warm, comfortable. I was loved, cared for, and I loved in return. “We’re gunna get you,” he said, before chasing me round, dangling the the toy in front of me. I playfully batted at the toy, delighting in the cries of amusement from the human. “We’re gunna get you!” He laughs again, dropping the toy, and scooping me up. I mew out a mock protest, before dissolving into purrs.

Life was good, my human was kind. He kept me fed, healthy, and we kept each other company. Days, months, went by. New toys, good food. “We’re gunna get you!” Always the call before he’d play and cuddle with me. I lived for this moment. I was his, he was mine.

One day, he didn’t come home. Strange humans wandered around the house. Odd smells, I didn’t like it, I didn’t like them. They ignored me, or shushed me away. My toys disappeared, my bowl was empty often then not. One day, they left the door open, and I ran out, searching for him.

I had never been outside before. So many smells! So many sights! At first, I was excited, and explored my new world. I hunted my first real prey, delighting in the instincts of my ancestors.

I remembered my quest, and returned home. But something was different. New humans, not mine, were here. There was a pair of dogs, menacing. They looked at me and growled, “We’re gunna get you!” I bolted in fear, my human was not coming back. I knew this now.

I’m not sure how long I wandered before another human grabbed me, and placed me in a car. Was I going to the vet? My human took me to the vet in a car. I was placed in this cold cage I now dwell, other cats were around me, mewing. Too many mews, I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Days pass, I am fed, given clean water, and played with some. But I still feel sad, lonely, scared. I watch as other cats leave, some with happy humans, some with the humans who stayed here. Those humans looked sad, and those cats smelled of fear.

I’m curled up in a ball, at the edge of my cage, when I hear footsteps approach. A human looks down at me, wiggles her fingers at me. I approach, sniff. She seemed worthy of me.

“Aren’t you lovely? We’re gunna get you.”