She Heard a Noise Outside

A woman sat curled up on her couch, the soft hum of the evening wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Then, a noise shattered the silence, a faint but unmistakable rustling just beyond her window. Her ears perked up, curiosity tugging at her as she set her book aside. The sound came again, this time accompanied by a delicate scrape against the glass. Was it the wind, or something more?

With cautious steps, she approached the window, her pulse quickening. The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the yard, but then—a pair of glowing eyes blinked back at her. A stray cat, its fur ruffled by the breeze, had been investigating her flowerpot. Relief washed over her, followed by a smile. Some mysteries, it seemed, were simply feline in nature.