A Black Cat

A single black cat, sitting in the darkness. Maybe it’s it’s sharp yellow eyes, or the way it holds itself, but you just aren’t comfortable the way you were a few minutes ago. You were walking down the road with your best friend, talking and laughing about things you’d done in the past. And the cat runs onto your path. The cat is unsettling. But your best friend doesn’t seem to notice. All they notice is that there is a cat on the street. They look shocked at seeing it. “Oh no, someone must have abandoned him! We have to take him home.” your friend says. You don’t want to say no, they may think you’re being heartless, so you say yes. You continue walking. Your friend says something funny, but you no longer have the heart to laugh full out. Yet you attempt to, if only to make them happy. They notice something wrong anyway, your friend has always been pretty sharp. “What’s wrong? Are you ok?” they ask. But you can’t tell them, not now, because you’ve notice the cat watching you, no, daring you to say something. So you say an unconvincing “Nothing” and look away so you don’t have to see the look of worry and disappointment on your best friend’s face.

Later on, you have finished your walk and are now at your home with your friend. You live together at a dorm room, an apartment, or even in the same house. The cat sits next to your computer or laptop and stares at you intently. You feel more uncomfortable than you ever have been in your life. The cat looks terrifying in the light, with a distorted face. One of the sharp red eyes are by it’s nose, while the other is next to one of its ears. It’s mouth has been cut so that it’s always smiling a creepy maniacal smile. It’s fur is damp, sticking straight up for it had just been washed by your friend. Your friend walks into the room. You ask them if they’d make sure the cat stays away from you. “Why? Do you not like him?” your friend asks. You shift uncomfortably in your seat, trying to avoid looking at the cat. You ask your friend if the cat does not make them feel strange, as if it has bad intent. “You’re just being silly.” your friend responds. “If you don’t like him so much I guess he’ll just sleep with me.” You knew that was a bad idea. The cat was pure evil, even if your best friend didn’t realize it, despite how sharp they are. Yet you say nothing, not wanting to get on their bad side. You both sleep in your respective rooms, peacefully.

The next day, you and your best friend part ways, they have school or a job and so do you. You finish for the day and walk home. As you walk home your cell phone rings. It’s the police calling from your best friend’s cell phone. You are shocked as they give you the news that your best friend that you have known all of your life, who has always had the most luck, is in the hospital. They had been hit by a speeding car that paid no attention to the red light that had been gleaming above the crosswalk. What sour luck for the both of you. Your friend is mortally injured and you have to take care of them and the cat now. You start to think that maybe black cats ARE bad luck.