The Cat in the Window

It was 7:15am and I had just arrived home from the 7pm to 7am night shift. Winter was slowly loosening its grip as the warm air met the cold ground. As I pulled into my drive, a light fog was rising across my backyard. I sat there for a moment or two relaxing over the cup of coffee I had just purchased. I could hear the morning song of the birds as they flittered from branch to branch singing their praises for a new day as mine was ending. Sleep lay heavy upon me and as I was about to exit the car when suddenly a cat appeared in my bedroom window. Her alien eyes were fixated on mine and wide as saucers. It was as if she was in a silent voice beckoning me into the house. That was strange I thought because I have no cat in my room. Yet her eyes beckoned me with a come-hither look.

I glanced down to retrieve my coffee and looked back at the window. It was now empty. There was no cat. Nothing but glass and a shade that hung askew and slightly tattered. As I turned away from the window, a large black crow landed on the hood of my car. It looked at me with intense menacing look. It opened its mouth and cawed twice. Strangely, I heard it speak in words. Two simple caws, two simple words… IT’S TIME.

A shiver ran up my back as my heart skipped a beat. I then looked back at the window. It was as if being drawn. There was no cat. However, in place of the cat was the face of a very old man and he was looking directly at me with dark and hollow eyes. His skin all wrinkled clung to sharp penetrating bones. I swiftly looked away and noticed the landscape of my yard had changed. No longer was it well manicured, no more were the spring flowers that had just begun to bloom, yet my backyard was overgrown with weeds and scrappy vines. My out buildings had fallen into disrepair. A silent fear now gripped my heart, and then…I felt a cold dead, emaciated hand touch my shoulder from the back seat. Dropping my hot coffee into my lap, I glanced into the rearview mirror and I saw that it was the old man in the window and that man was I.

I closed my eyes mostly in fear and silently prayed to God. I asked Him to remove this daydream/ vision from my heart. I have known that for some time now that I had lost my way. I have known that I have been traveling roads that should not be taken. All I have ever wanted to be is a simple kind of man. With tears streaming down my face I opened my eyes and saw the beautiful yard, the birds singing and all seemed well…except now I could see walking across my backyard all that I have known that have gone on to the other side. Again, I began to weep, and through tear-filled eyes, I glanced back to the window of my house and I saw my beautiful Jan smiling as if to welcome me home. Reality then took hold and my heart spoke aloud. Love today with everything that you have, for our lives are but a whisper and then we are gone. Love…TRUE love is our greatest gift. Share it while you still can.

J. Allen Wilson © 2019