Marvel stretches on her sun-warmed blanket near the lobby of the Albatros apartments. Sunlight pools across the terracotta tiles. The bell above the door jingles.
A little girl drops a bright yellow mitten on the floor. It slides across the tiles. Marvel's ears perk up.
Marvel trots after the girl, purring. She expects a scratch behind the ears. Instead, the girl points to a potted fern. 'You can nap here,' she says.
The fern leaves tickle Marvel's whiskers. She sneezes. The girl giggles.
Marvel trots to her usual corner by the mailboxes. A resident is changing the lightbulb. The ladder blocks her way. She bats at the dangling bulb. It swings gently, casting dancing shadows.
Marvel retreats to the rooftop garden. The wind tugs her fur. She finds a flowerpot occupied by a bumblebee. The bee hums a low tune. Marvel sits very still.
The bee buzzes around her head, then lands on her nose. Her eyes widen. The bee's wings shimmer.
Marvel walks back to the lobby. The little girl is there, reading a book. She sees Marvel and pats the blanket beside her.
Marvel leaps up, curls into a familiar shape. The girl rests her hand gently on Marvel's side. Marvel purrs, a rumble that vibrates through the blanket.
Marvel closes her eyes. The rumble feels like home.