Sofia hesitated by the balcony door, staring down at the tiny ball of fur curled up on the doorstep. The kitten was small, barely bigger than her hand, its wide, green eyes staring up at her with a silent plea. The early morning chill hadn't yet faded, and Sofia could see the slight shiver in its frail body. She knelt down, brushing a finger tentatively against its soft fur. The kitten leaned into her touch, purring so softly she almost didn't hear it. But still, she hesitated. What if she wasn't enough? What if it didn't belong here, just like she sometimes felt?

The door creaked open behind her, Julián appeared, still half asleep, hair mussed and a coffee mug in hand. He squinted down at the scene, his groggy voice breaking the silence. "What's that?"

"A kitten," Sofia whispered, glancing back at him, unsure, yet at the same time oddly amused at his barely awake appearance and wondering why he was even up at this time of day. "It's just… sitting here. I don't know if I should bring it in."

Julián sipped his coffee, looking at the kitten with bleary eyes before shrugging. "Let it stay. If it wants to be here, it's here for a reason."

Sofia bit her lip, weighing his words. The kitten mewed softly and curled tighter against her fingers. Slowly, she scooped it up, its tiny body fitting perfectly in her hands. She sat down on the floor, cradling the kitten in her lap as it nuzzled against her. The warmth of its little body soothed something in her, something she didn't realize had been aching.

"You're staying, huh?" she murmured, more to herself than the kitten.

Julián sat beside her, setting his mug down and resting his hand on her knee. He smiled, still sleepy but looking a touch more awake now. "We should give it a name."

She looked down at the kitten, feeling an unexpected wave of belonging was over her. The kitten had chosen her, just like Julián had. And somehow, that made her feel a little less out of place in the world.

"Yeah," she smiled, leaning into him. "We should." © tessisamess