Cindy meowed in pain and sadness. The cat couldn’t see the path, as if an intense fog prevented her from seeing the shapes. The swelling of his face caused him excruciating pain with each advance of his paw, everything shook inside him, even his soul, yes, animals also have a soul, unlike some humans, who are devoid of it. Like those who had stoned his eyes and, luckily, didn’t put them out. Luckily? What was the point in keeping them if I went blind? The blood that flowed from them and the infection obstructed his vision, his half-closed eyes only allowed him to see figures. The dry branches that blended in with the brown of the earth stung her face, and the horns of the cars that passed near her scared her, almost running her over. Tears were released from the corners of his eyes and from his heart. What would become of her? Wander the fields until your last breath of life? If little or nothing was visible within an inch of his nose, how could he hunt to survive? Hope died every day, life eluded it, dependent on the spread of the infection.
What reasons would someone do such an atrocity to him? No matter how much you think, you can’t find any reasons! Pleasure in throwing stones at the animal? Bet between who can hit the target? But the target is a being, not a log, a bottle, or a plate! It is an animal that walks, jumps, runs, kills and eats to survive, like humans. What power is attributed to the human being to take the life of those who have it?
Fluffy fur, white chest, black back, green eyes attentive to movement, the flights of insects, the runs of small rodents, inadvertently caught by one of the front paws, a “lynx eye” that lets nothing escape. I wouldn’t let it! Eyes now almost blind, that can’t even distinguish a branch of rusty iron among the waste! She feels around, moving away, frightened, from the voices she hears nearby. How ironic is the fate of some!
Born in the municipality of Tavira, in Santa Luzia (a toponym that adopted the name of the Saint who cured eye diseases), what miracle could she expect? What if the Saints only answered the prayers of humans, disregarding other beings? If only people were interested in divine protection, how would the construction of Noah’s Ark be justified?
It was the week of Christmas and New Year, the 25th had passed, a time when everyone was making the last purchases to put under the Christmas tree. In the past, people would put the “slipper in the chimney” and on the 25th, very early in the morning, you would see the little ones getting up and running to see what Baby Jesus had left next to the shoe, near the stove! Times have changed, Santa Claus came to replace the Child, gifts are left in the living room, next to the decorated tree.
Inside the illuminated houses, the tables are filled with donuts, roast meats, lights and laughter, then the preparation for the great celebration of the New Year’s Eve, again with the hustle and bustle of shopping for a special supper or, for some, the purchase of a dress with sequins or a different tie, or even the rush for raisins that were almost forgotten and that cannot be missed at 00.00 hours on the 31st. from December to January 1st!
The first dawn of 2026 arrived. Outside, the cold chilled the bones, burning the nostrils. No one would be bothered by the moans of a wounded, hungry, soaked cat! There was nothing left for him but to wait for the fatal moment.
They say that in those days, just over 2000 years ago, a star guided the wise men. Perhaps the same star would pass now, on this day and in this Portuguese land, which would show the way to a certain vehicle driven by a being moved by the magic of love, and which would come to collect the dying cat. It was common for Alice, the founder of the animal protection association ADOTA, to pass by on her assistance rounds to stray cat colonies, and who, for this reason, knew Cindy. He stopped the car immediately, recognized the kitten who could barely walk, approached her, noticed her pitiful state. Who could save her? May Saint Luzia, to whom so many miracles are attributed, heal your little eyes! During these festive days, almost everything was closed, not all veterinary clinics had emergency rooms open and, in this case, injured animals would be taken by firefighters to the nearest aid stations, in accordance with the instructions of the municipality. Alice quickly headed to the Tavira Fire Station, where she had passed a few days before to admire the beautiful nativity scene that the peacekeepers had set up in the lobby, remembering the One who was born one day to teach how to love “one another”, humans and certainly the animals that live with them. Immediately, a vehicle rushed out, heading to the veterinary hospital in Faro. May the Boy who was born to save the world, now rescue this defenseless little feline! May Christmas happen again! Not surrounded by gifts wrapped in colorful paper, nor by lights in series, but in the arms of those who spend their lives saving those of others! And may the words that were heard the day before “Good Year! Happy New Year” come true, may it be a Good New Year for everyone, with “health, peace and prosperity”. Alice’s heart was pounding, overcome with uncertainty as to whether Cindy would survive. Even if his vision didn’t fully recover, he would return to jumping in the fields, awaiting ADOTA’s care every day, with the fresh food he loved so much! Perhaps a human family would adopt her, as often happened with stray cats given up for responsible adoption. Perhaps the kitten in the New Year would have a “Christmas with peace and love”, the message translated by the figurines in the nativity scene!
The next day, Alice received a call from the veterinary hospital with the news of Cindy’s death. The kitten had not survived such suffering. On the streets, for several days, “Good Year” and “Happy New Year” would be heard among passers-by.
Also read:
