LoyaltyHe proved his loyalty not through grand gestures, but by simply staying when it would have been easier to leave.

Emily doesn’t immediately realise who is creeping along the road. She parks the car and rushes towards the creature that desperately needs help…

Drawing closer, Emily almost bursts into tears from pity. Before her, swaying on its feet, stands an exhausted cat. She can’t even tell what colour it is, because the animal is completely covered in mud.

But the worst part – the poor thing can’t see or breathe properly. A cut plastic bottle is stuck on its head.

“Who did this to you?” she gasps, gently lifting the little creature.

It feels weightless. The cat tries to jerk away with its last strength, but can’t, and hangs limply in her arms.

“Tom, are you at work? I need your help right now. Wait for me!” she shouts into the phone and races to the veterinary clinic where her friend works.

For the next two hours, Tom and his colleagues fight for the animal’s life. Emily sits quietly in the hallway, listening.

“Well, what can I say… The cat is lucky he met you. A little longer, and we wouldn’t have been able to help him. He’ll stay here tonight. I’m on duty, I’ll look after your little patient,” the young man smiles.

“Tom, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know…” Emily starts, then bursts into tears, burying her face in the vet’s shoulder.

Tom strokes her head: “Everything will be fine, Em. Remember how it was when we were kids?” He winks at his best friend.

Emily smiles through her tears. They’ve known each other for years. Tom has helped her out so many times. Since childhood, Emily has known – if Tom is around, everything will be okay.

“Go home. Or your mum will get angry again,” the young man worries.

Emily nods and quickly walks to the exit. Tom watches her go with affection…

*****

Tom’s worry isn’t unfounded. He is Emily’s neighbour and knows her family. The girl’s parents have been heavy drinkers for a long time.

Last year, the head of the family passed away. Emily’s mother is inconsolable. She loses more and more of her human side and takes it out on her daughter.

Tom has always felt a bit sorry for the pretty red-haired, freckled girl.

He is three years older than Emily and immediately takes her under his wing. He protects her from bullies and girls who tease her. Emily accepts Tom’s help with gratitude.

Unlike her parents, she strives for a good life. Emily graduates from school with a silver medal. And she understands that she has to put in maximum effort to get into a prestigious university.

Now Emily is a third-year student in the Department of Modern Languages.

Tom is very proud of his friend. He himself graduated from the Veterinary College not long ago, loves his work, but thinks learning foreign languages is much harder.

Emily manages not only to study but also to work part-time as a courier using her old car, which she inherited from her father.

“I’m home!” Emily calls from the hallway.

In response, she hears steady snoring. The apartment reeks of alcohol. Her mother is asleep with one leg hanging off the sofa. Empty bottles lie scattered on the floor.

The girl sighs heavily, clears away the mess, and goes to her room to prepare for her classes.

Emily can’t get the image of the tormented animal out of her head. How is he doing? She picks up her phone and texts Tom…

The poor cat sleeps, twitching anxiously. It feels like its tormentors are still nearby. It moans softly from pain and then sinks back into darkness.

“You’ll pull through, fighter! For Em’s sake. She’s waiting for you and wishes you well,” Tom whispers as he sits beside him.

By morning, the cat opens its eyes and, seeing a person nearby, tries to run. But it can’t. It stares at Tom in terror. Pain is frozen in its gaze.

“Easy, little one, I won’t hurt you,” Tom says.

But the cat knows that in this world, no one can be trusted. It wants to hiss, but only a hoarse sound comes from its throat.

“It’s all right, handsome,” Tom says, carefully examining the cat.

The poor thing spends the whole week at the clinic. Emily comes every day to visit her new friend, who initially shies away from people. But eventually he chooses Emily and Tom, cautiously letting them approach.

“You’ve decided to take him home?” Tom asks the girl.

He worries about how Emily’s mother will react to the new family member. Emily nods confidently, holding the cat close…

To everyone’s surprise, the woman calmly accepts the pet. She just asks hoarsely, “I hope I won’t have to feed him?”

Emily smirks. Margaret spends her entire pension on alcohol. The cat and her daughter are not part of her plans.

“Mum, I’ll feed him myself,” the girl sighs.

“That’s a grown-up answer. Good for you,” her mother says approvingly.

Then, as if waking up, she asks, “What have you named him?”

Emily looks at the greyish-red cat and replies, “Rusty.”

“He really does look a bit like a rusty thing,” Margaret laughs.

And so they start living with the cat. Emily feels happier coming home, because now she knows someone is waiting for her there…

Rusty doesn’t trust Margaret. The woman frightens him with her hoarse voice and sudden movements. The smell of alcohol makes the cat nervous.

So he tries to stay out of her sight when Emily isn’t home.

“He’s so wild, not affectionate at all,” the mother grumbles unhappily.

Emily shrugs and tries not to argue.

When Tom visits, Rusty cautiously comes out to him. Then he rubs against his legs. He remembers the young man well and is grateful for being saved.

Tom tells Emily that Rusty is about four years old. But the cat has been through a lot. He is missing some teeth, has problems with one paw, and a heart condition.

“Excessive stress, like flying on a plane, is dangerous for his health,” Tom says.

“Oh well, and here we were planning a holiday abroad with Rusty,” the girl laughs, fully aware that any flights are out of the question…

Two years pass.

Emily is finishing university and dreams of a career as a translator. One day, she delivers a package of documents to the office of a large company.

The secretary accepts the parcel. Emily is about to leave when a confused man comes out of a meeting room:

“I have no idea what to do. The negotiations are in an hour, and there isn’t a single decent translator!” he sighs.

Emily gazes at the handsome man. He notices her too.

“You wouldn’t happen to be a translator, would you?” he asks.

The secretary opens her mouth, but Emily beats her to it:

“Yes, I am a translator. I speak English and Chinese,” she answers briskly.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the secretary’s eyes widen like saucers. But she decides to take the risk…

So, soon after graduating, Emily gets a job as a personal assistant to Michael.

Michael turns out to be a charming man of thirty-five. After a couple of months, their relationship becomes more than professional. Emily enjoys Michael’s attention. He courts her beautifully, gives unusual gifts.

“You seem different lately, mate. Since you got that job, you’ve changed,” Tom says to Emily.

The girl smiles mysteriously. She doesn’t want to share her happiness with anyone…

“You should tell her. How long are you going to pine over Em?” Tom’s best friend, Nick, insists.

“You’re probably right. But I’m afraid she won’t feel the same. And I’ll ruin our friendship,” the young man admits.

“This isn’t friendship, it’s torture. You look terrible,” Nick sighs gloomily.

Tom knows his friend is right…

It’s Tom’s birthday, and as always, Emily is the first to come and congratulate him. She knocks on the door. Tom is already waiting at the threshold.

“Tommy, happy birthday!” Emily says as she enters the flat.

“After all these years, nothing changes,” Tom’s mum smiles, looking at them.

Emily has baked her friend’s favourite cake, as usual. They sit in the kitchen drinking tea.

“You seem mysterious today, Tommy. What’s up?” Emily starts first.

“Em, you know, I’ve wanted to tell you something for a long time…” Tom begins. But Emily interrupts him:

“Listen, I have something serious to talk to you about too.”

The young man freezes. Hope stirs in his heart.

“Then you go first,” he suggests.

Emily smiles: “I got a job. You know that. And also… I’ve fallen in love!” she blurts out, looking straight into his eyes.

For a moment, Tom is taken aback: “Well, finally, Em. I’m so glad, because I also…” He doesn’t finish because the girl interrupts again:

“And you see, he’s so caring… True, he’s older than me. But that doesn’t matter, right?”

Tom thinks. The age gap between them is only three years and doesn’t bother him at all. He nods and continues listening, holding his breath.

“You see, this is my chance at a happy life. Michael is flying to London in two months and wants me to come with him.

But I can’t take Rusty. You said yourself that he has a bad heart. And Michael is allergic to animals,” she says.

Tom is stunned. It feels like a steamroller has run over him:

“Wait, what Michael? What does the allergy and Rusty have to do with it?” he asks quietly.

“Tommy, are you even listening? Michael is my boss and my fiancé. We’re moving to London. I’ve always dreamed of living and working abroad. It’s such an experience!

But we can’t take Rusty. I don’t know what to do. Leaving him with Mum is not an option, and giving him away is also… You know Rusty doesn’t go to anyone else,” Emily sighs.

Tom sits in silence.

“What a fool I am!” runs through his mind. He pulls himself together and puts on a carefree smile: “Well, Em. That’s news! Don’t worry, mate. Everything will be fine, I promise! I can take Rusty. He knows me. The main thing is that you’re happy,” he says cheerfully.

Emily looks into Tom’s eyes. They have somehow become sad and dim, although a minute ago they shone with joy.

“What did you want to tell me?” she asks uncertainly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just some small changes at work,” Tom waves his hand…

For two months, Emily prepares for the trip.

Strangely, the closer the moving day gets, the heavier her heart becomes:

“I guess I’m afraid of leaving Mum alone…” Emily thinks. But deep down, she knows that’s not the main reason for her sadness.

Tom’s sad gaze keeps appearing before her eyes. How will she live without him? They’ve been best friends for so many years.

Lately, Emily has even started to feel that their friendship has grown into something more…

“Stop it! I’m about to live with Michael in London. And I’m thinking about Tom, of all people,” Emily tries to push away the troubling thoughts.

Rusty carefully climbs into her arms. He senses that something is wrong with his owner. So he tries to calm her down with a gentle purr.

“Rusty, my little one. How will I manage without you?” Emily whispers.

She recalls a recent conversation with Michael, who made it clear that the cat has no place in their life:

“Em, I can’t spend my whole life on pills because of some animal. Even the most beloved one,” he said.

And those words sound like a sentence…

“Well, Em, time to say goodbye!” Tom says cheerfully. In his arms, he holds Rusty.

“Tom, please call me, don’t forget,” the girl whispers through tears.

“Don’t fall apart, or Rusty will get nervous. Sorry we can’t drive you to the airport,” Tom smiles.

They stand on the landing. He lets Rusty back inside and hugs Emily.

“Don’t let her go… Don’t let her go!” pounds in his temples.

“I have to go,” Emily says and kisses him on the cheek.

“I won’t forget. I’ll never forget,” Tom whispers, letting go…

She stands at the check-in counter, knowing that her fate is being decided right now.

“Why are you so sad?” Michael encourages her.

She tries to smile.

“I won’t forget… I’ll never forget…” Tom’s words echo in her head…

Emily looks out the window at the airport building disappearing behind them.

“Coming back from somewhere?” asks the taxi driver.

“No, I just stayed,” Emily replies, tears of happiness in her eyes.

“It happens… I think you made the right decision,” the driver says philosophically.

Rusty sits sadly.

“Everything will be fine, Rusty!” Tom encourages him.

There’s a persistent knock at the door. The young man opens it and freezes…

“Back then, on your birthday, you wanted to tell me something, but I interrupted,” says Emily.

Tom smiles: “What are you doing here?” he asks.

“Tom, tell me, what did you want to say?” Emily repeats.

But the young man is silent, looking at her. Then he steps closer and hugs the girl.

She strokes the happy Rusty, who is rubbing against her legs, and whispers: “I love you, and I can’t live without you and Rusty…”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to tell you, my dear,” Tom replies.