Captured!

Even though I've already been to see the vet this year, last week the woman took me again. She thinks she's clever, but I can always tell when she's plotting against us. She tries to act casual but she can never manage it. Nevertheless, she did a better job this time than usual. Instead of taking action the night before, she left her door ajar, and I slept beside her all night with one eye open. Near morning she suddenly rose and locked us both inside the bedroom. I assumed it was Bandit's turn to visit the vet, but instead, her neighbor friend came over. I hid under the far corner of the bed to be safe, but a few minutes later, I was trapped between the two humans. Finally I felt the woman scoop me up by my neck. Within moments I was in a cage, and then worse yet, a car.

After that things became a blur. I remember being handled, but my memory fails. And then there was the woman again, and another car ride. On the way home I realized two things: I was missing two teeth, but the pain that had been haunting me for months was gone. Instead of running away for three days, as I usually do, that night I slept with the woman again, this time with both eyes closed.

--Phantom