I don’t see her until she makes the noise
A noise that breaks my heart
I turn slowly to see the graceful face
Her pale green eyes full of hunger and want
One paw snakes through the metal bars
She twists her lithe body so that I am looking into her eyes
She makes that piteous call and I am completely transfixed
She seems to beckon me
My body obeys
I reach through the bars to stroke velvet fur
Her rough tongue caresses my hand
I instantly know
She is the one
When I come home
There she is
My lovely
My darling
My Stella