The woman opens the balcony door and asks if I would like to go outside, but I don't like the noises, or how the sun scorches the carpet, or the smells which rise—smells like hot metal, flowers, petrol, mold, grass, rubber, sweat, and the wildcoats of animals. Into rich, odorous clothes I hide, or the crevice between the washer/dryer, or behind the box of Aquafinas in the pantry (I have long learned how to open the cabinet with a single claw). Why would they think I want to be a part of the world out there? Even my owners send me scurrying with their thunderous soles and blundering bodies and voices mean as dropped books (that is, when they're speaking to each other—they reserve sweet, strained noises for me). If I'm feeling brave (so rare, so rare) I might tiptoe across the balcony and look from the rail and tempt myself to go down. Sometimes I see cats slinking by blue wheels. They're not startled by the angry breaths of cars, but they hiss if a human comes close. The smells of these cats scare me most—smells of musk and might, of freedom and poetry.

#nonfiction #animalpov #cateyes

The house is still and all is well.

They've been gone since the morning,

Making me the guardian.

Nothing comes in or out without me knowing.

I am perched at the top of the grand set of stairs,

Enabling me to see the entire house.

With my hearing however, my spot is almost meaningless.

Nothing comes in or out without me knowing.

I hear rustling in the corner of the TV room.

I hurry over to find a roach, and the problem is taken care of.

It was obviously born in the house, for

Nothing comes in or out without me knowing.

As I make my way back to my post, I hear people.

They are approaching the side door.

I sprint to the door ready to defend.

Nothing comes in or out without me knowing.

I hear the familiar rattling in the doorknob, the rattling a key makes.

I am overcome with joy as the door opens and they are there!

My job is done for the day, and I can rest until tommorow.

Nothing comes in or out without me knowing.

I wake up to feel alive again, after a long insidious day

I wake up to prove to myself there's always another day

I wake up in hope to see that child like smile once again

I wake up to make sure Hades has competition for yet another day

Im not sure when my day will come but until then

I guarantee you i will wake up over and over again