after the cops left
and the ambulance had gone
and i was home again
with nothing but silence
and the leftover pad thai
that no longer looked festive—

i found her
perched on the radiator
like a judgmental gargoyle.

she blinked at me
the way cats do when they’re trying
to telepathically project
what the fuck is wrong with you?

i knelt down,
offered her a piece of shrimp
as a peace treaty.
she sniffed it,
then walked away
like she had bigger offers.

i said,
“sorry for the flashing lights.
sorry for the weird men.
sorry i keep failing the vibe check
you apparently administer daily.”

she licked her paw
with slow, godlike detachment.
then curled up on my hoodie
as if to say,
you are mine.
you are disappointing.
but mine.