"Being a cat was never easy."

I've known Jamie... Well, ever since I've known him, he's been alone. Aside from me of course. I was always with him.

A black cat trails happily alongside a boy with long hair wearing a poncho. he looks about fifteen.

The cat rubs lovingly against his leg. "Taru, stop!" he laughs happily.

In this world of our own, it was us and the happiness we had found. But a lingering loneliness hung over like a thick black cloud.

Being a cat, I couldn't provide Jamie with the love or attention that he needed being an adolescent. I was a cat, nothing more.

As the year went on and that lingering cloud seemed to suffocate our happiness, I reached my limit. I needed to be human, or give him up. I wouldn't give him to anyone. I was Jamie's and Jamie's alone.

Spring came again, bringing the cherry wood back into bloom. I wanted nothing more than to make Jamie happy at this point. I loved him, I admit that I did, being a cat. It could never be and as soon as I started to deny it, everything changed.

That's the only time I saw her. An elegant beauty clad in silk and scarves. This radiant woman, I thought, had come to take Jamie away. but the more I think about it, the more I believe that my love for Jamie was what made her do what she did.

That warm spring night, I became a woman.

I awoke, thrown onto Jamie and clothed in a beautiful pale olive robe. I stood, looking around and then at myself. I no longer possessed paws with padded palms, but hands; like Jamie's.

Nudging him slightly, I wished to show him my transformation, thinking though, maybe I should give myself a thorough inspection before showing him what I myself had not yet completely seen.

Walking, clumsily (for I had not yet gotten used to being a bi-pied), reached a pond where I stood at awe at my appearance. My fur which had once covered me, had become long, jet black hair. I was beautiful, but would pale in comparison to the radiant beauty who gave me my gift.

I continued looking at my new-found reflection. Trying to perfect my image. When I was satisfied, I stared at myself, and then at the approaching figure seen in my mirror.

Jamie stared at me, dumbfounded. "Taru?" he said at last, "Have you always been this way?" I looked back at him and smiled. No longer able to contain my happiness, I jumped up and hugged him tightly.

A year later was when the miserable cloud returned
To be continued...