Some souls come into your life just long enough to teach you something essential. During the pandemic, when the world went quiet and the streets emptied, she found me. Or perhaps I found her — a street cat with an injured leg and absolutely no intention of being pitied. I healed her leg. She healed something in me I did not know was broken. My sister called her Simbichka. I called her Semichka. She answered to both — and to neither — because she was a free soul from the very beginning, and we both knew it. She had this unique way of sleeping — curled into a perfect circle, paw tucked over her face, as if the whole world could wait. I used to watch her and think — what a beautiful way to exist. Completely, peacefully, unapologetically yourself. When the pandemic lifted and life opened up again, I let her go. Back to her streets, her freedom, her world. It was the right thing. I knew it then. But some days — like today — I miss her so much. Semichka. Simbichka. Wherever you are — I hope you are sleeping in a warm circle of light, paw over your face, dreaming of nothing at all. "I healed her leg. She healed something in me I did not know was broken."