MOLLY

My name is Molly and I am a mixed breed cat.

My past is connected to the earth and dampness of the trench, where my sister and I found ourselves completely alone. I do not remember how we ended up where we were. Every day my sister and I survived and huddled together, trying not to listen to the thunder of the sky above us. Living in fear became our daily life.⠀

Sometimes it seemed to me that hope for a better future had almost disappeared. We drank rainwater, ate everything we could find. And when the explosions were especially loud, we froze and hid our heads in each other. And yet we continued to hold on.

I think I will remember the day when the soldiers descended into our trench forever, just like everything else we had to endure up to that moment.

The light of a flashlight, heavy steps... We froze, a heavy smell of ash and metal came from them, but it was enough for me to look at their faces once to understand that now we would not be alone and they would help us.

We lived with them for some time in that dark trench. They shared canned food and water with us, and we shared our cat warmth with them. Sometimes, when my sister and I started playing with something, as kittens are supposed to, the soldiers looked at us and smiled. At such moments, even despite the fact that we all literally found ourselves in the middle of a war, light was born from the smiles of these soldiers.

But then the time came to leave. They carried us out of this darkness and took us to a shelter. And although we parted with them, I know that each of them gave us a piece of hope.

Now we live in safety, among other rescued animals. It's quiet here, I always have a bowl, a soft place to sleep, my sister is nearby, and most importantly, we no longer hear the sounds of war. And one day, as those soldiers promised us, believing that my sister and I deserved it, we will find our forever home.