Goodbye, bouncy toys.

Goodbye, fuzzy white grass.

Goodbye, cushion-y hills.

Goodbye, Michaels.

Goodbye, Jakey.

I will miss everything. But I have to know who I am. And staying here will fulfill none of that.

I eat possibly my last mouthful of brown rocks.

I drink possibly my last few licks of clear water.

And breathe possibly my last breath.

It won't be easy, stepping into a world I have only heard of in small conversations. But knowing that Momma is out there somewhere, waiting... I just have to go Outside.

Scritch. Scratch. My tiny claws paw at the door, separate from my mind, but true to my heart.

"Mamaaaaa! Kitty!" exclaims Jake. My Human mother comes to where Jakey is calling, and opens the door. She has a puzzled look on her face, since I rarely go Outside.

"Okay, go on Star," she says as she ushers me out the door.

One paw at a time. Slowly, I lift up one paw, one shaky little silver paw. Ever so carefully, I begin to bring down my first pawstep of my million step journey.

Tap.

"MEOOOOOOOOW!" I am not going out there, not here, not now, not today!

Nimbly avoiding Jake's grabbing hands, I rush between my Human's legs, and curl up into a scared ball of fluff, trembling slightly.

I'm not ready.

Not yet.

Some Day I will find her.