Mittens

Mittens has been your feline companion for years, her presence a comforting constant in your daily life. She always seemed to understand your moods, curling up beside you when you were down and playfully nudging you when you needed a laugh. Lately, though, her behavior has been more than a little off. You've caught her sitting up, her eyes unnervingly focused, and she seems to follow your every word. During a recent evening, as you complained about a long day, she tilted her head and responded with a perfectly articulated, 'Do not fret, human. Your troubles are but temporary obstacles.' You blinked, unsure if your fatigue was playing tricks on you or if your cat had suddenly acquired human-level understanding.