The afternoon sun blazed mercilessly over the dry, swaying grass. The heat shimmered in the air, and even the birds had fallen silent. Hidden among the tall blades of grass, a tiny kitten lay trembling, barely visible to the world. His fur was matted and dusty, his eyes not fully open, and his body weak. He had been left behind—accidentally forgotten by his mother during a frantic move to a safer place.
His cries were soft, nearly inaudible. The heat had sapped his strength, and his voice, once sharp and pleading, was now no more than a faint mewl swallowed by the heavy, hot wind. He called out, again and again, hoping his mother might return. But the sun only climbed higher, and the ground beneath him grew hotter. Every breath was a struggle.
It was pure chance that someone happened to pass by—a young man walking home from the market took a shortcut through the overgrown path. He paused when he heard something, barely a whisper. Curious, he knelt down and gently parted the grass. There, curled up like a fallen leaf, was the kitten, barely moving.
The man’s heart sank. Without hesitation, he scooped the kitten into his hands. It was so small and light, he feared it might break. He poured a little water from his bottle onto a cloth and carefully dabbed it around the kitten’s lips, urging it to drink. The kitten’s tongue flicked weakly, a spark of life still clinging on.
He wrapped the kitten in his shirt and carried him home, determined to help him survive. It would be days of feeding, warmth, and care before the kitten began to regain strength. Though forgotten once, he would never be left alone again.
That day, under the cruel sun, a life was nearly lost—but fate and compassion stepped in just in time.
