Chapter 1
The morning sun filtered gently through the curtains as eight-year-old Jev slowly opened his eyes. He lay still for a moment, listening to the familiar sounds of his home waking up—the clatter of pans downstairs, the aroma of breakfast drifting through the air, and the muffled footsteps of his parents moving around the house.
He climbed out of bed, got dressed in his school uniform, and made his way downstairs.
His mother stood at the stove, humming softly as she cooked breakfast. Across the room, his father adjusted his tie while checking the time. Everything felt warm. Safe. Normal.
"Good morning," Jev said sleepily as he slid into his chair.
His mother smiled and placed a plate of hot breakfast in front of him.
"Eat before it gets cold."
He nodded and began eating.
A few moments later, his father walked over, leaned down, and kissed him gently on the forehead.
"I'm sorry, buddy," he said with a tired smile. "Work has been so busy lately... I haven't been able to spend much time with you."
Jev looked up and smiled back.
"It's okay, Dad. I know work is important."
His father's eyes softened. He opened the front door, then paused and looked back.
"You've grown, my boy."
With one last smile, he left for work.
---
School passed like any other day.
Lessons blurred together until the final bell echoed through the hallways. Jev packed his books into his backpack and began the walk home.
The streets were quiet.
The afternoon breeze brushed against his face as he walked down the familiar road.
Then...
A small orange cat wandered into the middle of the street.
At the same moment, a speeding car came racing toward it.
Jev's heart stopped.
Move...
His body refused.
His legs felt glued to the ground.
He knew if he ran now, he might be able to push the cat out of the way.
But he also knew...
The car was too close.
If he stepped onto the road...
He might be the one who got hit.
His breathing became uneven.
It's only one cat...
Mom is waiting for me.
Dad is waiting for me.
He lowered his head and forced himself to turn away.
One step.
Then another.
A deafening screech shattered the silence.
THUD.
His entire body froze.
Slowly...
Almost unwillingly...
He glanced back over his shoulder.
The cat lay motionless on the road.
Bright red blood spread across the asphalt.
She wasn't moving.
She never would again.
Jev quickly looked away.
His eyes filled with tears as he continued walking.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
---
The moment he reached home, he rushed upstairs, slammed his bedroom door shut, and collapsed onto his bed.
The guilt he had been holding back finally broke free.
He cried.
Loudly.
Painfully.
The sound echoed through the house.
Within seconds, his mother hurried upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door.
She found Jev curled up on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Without saying a word, she rushed over and wrapped him in a warm embrace.
"What happened?" she asked softly. "Why are you crying?"
Jev pulled away just enough to look at her.
Between broken sobs, he told her everything.
The cat.
The speeding car.
His fear.
His decision to walk away.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the bedroom.
Jev stared at her in shock before bursting into even louder tears.
"I'm sorry!" he cried. "I know... I should've saved the cat... I'm so sorry!"
His mother grabbed both of his shoulders.
"No!"
Her voice was firm.
"That isn't why I slapped you."
He looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
"You knew the car was coming."
"If you had tried to save that cat, maybe she would've survived."
"But what about you?"
"What if you had been hit?"
"What if your legs had been crushed?"
"Worse..."
"What if you had died?"
She gently wiped away his tears.
"Choosing to stay alive wasn't cowardice."
"It was the smart choice."
Jev sniffled quietly.
"But..." she continued, "there is one thing you should have done."
"You could have buried her."
"Every life deserves respect."
She smiled gently.
"So come on."
"Show me where it happened."
"We'll bury her together."
---
They walked back to the road where the accident had taken place.
But when they arrived...
There was nothing.
No cat.
No blood.
Not even a stain on the pavement.
It was as though nothing had ever happened.
His mother looked around before resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry," she said. "Someone probably called the city cleaning department."
She smiled.
"Come on."
"Let's go home."
---
On the way back, they passed a small ice cream stand.
His mother smiled.
"Want some ice cream?"
A faint smile finally appeared on Jev's face.
Minutes later, they walked home together, quietly eating their ice cream beneath the evening sky.
For a brief moment...
Everything felt normal again.
Until they reached their front door.
A package sat on the doorstep.
Wrapped neatly in colorful gift paper.
Jev frowned.
"...Mom?"
"What's that?"
His mother bent down to pick it up.
The moment she touched it...
She frowned.
"It smells..."
A rotten, sickening odor drifted from inside.
"Let's take it in," she said.
"Maybe something spoiled during delivery."
She carried it into the dining room and placed it carefully on the table.
Jev stood beside her, covering his nose.
The smell grew stronger.
His mother slowly peeled away the gift wrapping.
Inside was an old cardboard box.
The odor became unbearable.
For a brief second...
Neither of them spoke.
She reached for the lid.
Lifted it.
And looked inside.
Her face instantly turned pale.
Jev, unable to resist his curiosity, looked into the box as well.
His stomach twisted violently.
He stumbled backward and vomited onto the floor.
His mother did the same.
Curled inside the box...
Covered in dried blood...
Was the same orange cat.
Its lifeless eyes stared upward.
Jev's entire body began shaking.
"No..."
His voice cracked.
"No... no..."
He fell to his knees and screamed.
"It's her..."
"It's the same cat..."
