On the day my brother and I were born the first thing we remember seeing was darkness. We were both so scared yet remained calm. Our mother’s soft purrs and scent kept us calm and fearless. We were learning and growing so fast with our mother’s help. She would say, “Be brave and never give up. You will accomplish a lot of things in life by being brave, and never giving up”. We will always remember those words. After two months my brother and I were still young and learning. My mother has taught us a lot of things in order to survive on our own. 

As we got stronger our mother began letting us hunt for food. We both had a hard time finding food and made a lot of mistakes. Even though it was hard We didn’t give up and kept trying. As we grew stronger we learned how to defend ourselves. I could see it in my mother’s face that she was proud and happy. The home we had been living in was suddenly destroyed. My brother and I were so sad. I just couldn’t figure out our mothers feelings and emotions. She seemed calm and knew where to go. 

A few months passed and our mother started actting weird. My brother and I started to worry about her. We wanted to ask her what was wrong, but my brother and I were just too scared. I told him, “Stop being scared, we need to ask her if she is okay.”. “ Fine but what if she gets mad?”, he replied. “It’s fine, let's just do it”, I reassured him. 

We both got the courage and asked, "Are you ok mom? We noticed that you are not okay and are acting differently.” Mom replied, “Oh, I am ok… my kittens… don’t worry about me." We both looked at her knowing she was lying. We demanded for her to explain why she couldn't walk. “Fine… I haven't been feeling well, and I didn’t want to worry you.” she responded. We became more worried and felt sad. We were scared for her. Our mom was sad to see us worried. She told us not to worry but we couldn’t help it. We started to look after her all day even though she didn’t want us to. There would be days where she would lay down the whole day. After a week she started to get out of our sight which we thought, “Hey mother is getting better”. So we continued taking turns to take care of her.

The next morning, as I went outside, I overheard people saying that there was going to be a big storm. I hurried home to tell my brother. Strong winds started to blow into our home and rain started pouring inside. I ran inside to get my mother but her sickness slowed her down. She couldn’t make it out of the flooded house. We knew that we were going to lose her. She remained calm, looked at us with sadness in her eyes and told us, “Be brave, and don’t give up…..”. Right then water rushed into the house and swept us out. I ran back inside to get my mother but found her laying on a piece of wood, motionless and not breathing. I was devastated, demanding her to wake up. “Mom, wake up! Come on.. wake up!” I yelled and was in tears. I didn’t want to leave her there but my brother pulled me away. We had no choice but to continue with our lives. 

A year later after my mother’s death, my brother and I had grown up. He found a new home with his wife. I was happy for him and told him, “Take care of your wife, treat her as if she is gold. When you have your own kittens, take care of them exactly the way mother did to us. Teach them to hunt for food and to be brave”. I was so lonely and missed my brother and mother. I found myself in darkness like when I was born but this time without my mother and brother. My mother was the light and without her I couldn't find the light. I still remember the day she died and I wished that she was still here. 

A few months passed and I still was alone. I visited my brother every week. I saw that his life was amazing and he is doing really well. I wished that I could share my life with someone and be happy too. I always wondered what it would be like to have a human family like the cats I see in windows at homes. How is it to be loved by a human?

One day while visiting my brother and his family I realized that my brother's wife always acted strange around me. She stared at me with caution and fear. That day he asked me to meet him outside. I thought it was weird, so I asked, “Why?” My brother replied, “She is not used to seeing a cat as big as you. I am sorry.” I started to question my appearance. “Do I look different from my brother?”. I never gave it much thought but I didn’t pay too much attention to it. Maybe I’m just a big cat that looks furious. All I wanted was to be happy and find a family of my own.

The next morning when I was outside searching for food I got caught by a man. I was taken to a place where there were so many dogs. I was scared but strangely, the dogs didn't bother me at all. I asked myself, “Why am I here? I’m a cat. Why take me to a place with only dogs? Wait… is this why I am so much bigger than my brother? Is this why my claws don’t work? My meow… wait.. I don’t have one. Am I a DOG?!”

As time passed I met many dogs. They were very nice to me. They helped me know that I was a dog. “Wow! So much makes sense now”. I am a dog that got saved by my mother cat. She took me when I was born. I never knew any better. My friends told me that I was at a pound and that people would go in and adopt us. There was a room they called The Happy Room. I would see most of my friends go there. They were so excited and happy and sometimes they wouldn't return. I wouldn’t see them again. “Is that where they would get adopted?”

The next day I woke up and saw a human looking at me from the other side of the cage. I felt nervous but I sensed their love and kindness. We met in the happy room and to my surprise I was adopted. They took me to their home. I was so scared at first but I remembered my mother telling me to be brave. They let me stay inside for the night. I was happy because I was not alone anymore. I have a family now. I have a kid now. He was so nice and shy.