Once upon a time there lived an Absolutely Independent Woman. About a year ago she became like that - absolutely independent. Which I was terribly proud of. She woke up when the alarm went off and never lay in bed.
It took her a long time to overcome her caffeine addiction. And she overcame it, at the same time banishing everything sweet, high-calorie and unhealthy from her diet. So she drank water in the morning and ate unsweetened and unsalted oatmeal.
She broke up with her friends because she didn't want to depend on them. She was completely indifferent to shopping - and no one would dare to blame her for being able to lose her head because of a shiny rag. What about shopping? She did not lose her head over men either. Many months have passed since she drove away her beloved (and she almost became dependent on him).
In short, the Absolutely Independent Woman felt that just a little more and she would become the Ideal Woman.
On Saturday morning, a rustling sound was heard outside her door. She opened it. Staggering from fatigue, the Cat stood on the threshold. The woman took a closer look and gasped:
- You?! But... How? Three hundred and forty kilometers?!
“I walked for a year,” and the Cat, entering the house, leaned exhaustedly against the leg of the chair.
- For what?
“I miss you,” the Cat raised her eyes. “I can’t live without you, or without our home, or without our man.” By the way, where is he?
- But I took you to your aunt in the village... Were you not offended?
“At first, yes,” the Cat sighed. - But then I forgave. I understand: you so wanted to become independent...
- And it did! — The Woman’s voice suddenly trembled treacherously.
“Well, congratulations,” whispered the Cat.
At night, the Woman, shuddering, opened her eyes - she always woke up from an incomprehensible feeling of melancholy emptiness in her chest. It was cold near my heart, as if someone inside had turned on a fan. Out of habit, she reached out her hand for a sedative - and stumbled upon warm fur. The cat softly stomped on the blanket, lay down next to her, and purred. Soon the cold fan in my chest disappeared.
...Three days have passed. The woman woke up. I lay in bed for half an hour, then rushed to the kitchen, anticipating strong coffee with dark chocolate. Then she reached for her mobile phone and wrote an SMS to her beloved man: “Forgive me, fool, I miss you.” Then she made an appointment with a friend in a cafe. And suddenly she saw the Cat sitting by the door.
“Let me out, please,” she asked.
-Are you leaving?! — Tears sparkled in the Woman’s eyes. - But now I can’t live without you!
“Calm down,” said the Cat. “I’m just going for a walk, I’ll be back soon.” And please don't lock the door. After all, independence is not at all the absence of dependencies, as you thought. This is the knowledge that the door is open. And independence is the happiness of having someone to whom you are ready to walk three hundred and forty kilometers...
And the Cat walked out the threshold, smiling encouragingly at the Absolutely Normal Woman...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru