(warning: gore and horror)

I'm driving on Bell road towards my parents'. Just when I'm cresting the hill by Dusty's old house I notice my cat Vita running across the dashboard inside the car (though she is smaller, or the windshield farther away, than real life). I think that at least she is safe in the car, but then she jumps out, and I realize the window right behind me is open.

I've just passed the road at Mills's, and I immediately turn the car around, using a spare driveway into the field on the left. As I'm turning, a camper-truck has come down the side road and turned onto Bell in my direction.

As I rush back toward the intersection, I can already see a large puddle of blood and two boys in the road, looking curious and sort of picking at something. It's Vita, but she's still alive, but barely. There's so much blood, and a huge glob of pink flesh on the road. She surely won't survive.

At first she curls up as if to go to sleep. The boys pet her head, and she likes it. I put my hand to her nose for her to smell it is me, and then I start petting her. There's something wrong with her eyes and her teeth, like her spirit is already leaving her body, but she's aware. I pet her and talk to her, ask her what is this pink thing that came from her, tell her it's going to be ok, just go to sleep.

I take note of the day that she died. The span of her existence. I will miss her, especially in bed at night.