I can honestly say that I wasn’t expecting a little furball to come home with my husband and me on that Sunday afternoon when I left my apartment that morning, but we ended up right where we were needed.

As we walked out of the restaurant with our friends, just chitchatting before saying our goodbyes, I heard a faint meow. My heart skipped a beat, and I genuinely hoped I had misheard it. But I couldn’t ignore it; I paid extra attention while continuing to chat, and then it happened again, this time louder, and another friend heard it too. Without thinking, I followed the sound, and it continued, growing more insistent until I realized it was coming from under our friend’s truck.

I crouched down and spotted a panting, little kitten with striking blue eyes. It hissed as I tried to reach for it. I didn’t want to stress it out, but I also couldn’t let this cat and mouse game continue in the scorching 111-degree heat or risk it running into the parking lot and getting hurt.

Eventually, I managed to gently pick it up, and it didn’t resist much, if you can count hissing as resistance.

Our plans for the day were suddenly put on hold as we rushed straight home, making a quick stop for wet cat food and litter box supplies.

That first afternoon with us, it was clearly exhausted, and it slept nonstop the entire first day. It wasn’t until Tuesday that I finally checked to see its gender, and it turns out it’s a girl!

My husband and I estimate she’s between 4-5 weeks old, so our friends can’t take her until she’s 6 weeks and vaccinated. Therefore, we’re currently providing her a temporary home until she’s ready for her forever home with two loving humans and their two older boy cats.

It’s going to be bittersweet when she leaves my place, but I know she’s going to a loving home. We’ve grown quite fond of her during this short phase of her life, and we’ve cherished our time together.

The best part is that she’ll only live six minutes away from me! That’s honestly not too bad, and I couldn’t ask for more.