Maybe it was Thomas

Went for a brisk walk this evening, up the street towards my old Pre-U centre. I've been up that way several times before but only at night.

This time was different in one significant way. This time, I saw a cat on the walkway that looked very much like Thomas. For those who don't know, Thomas was my cat that went missing almost a year ago. Aside from being of the same colour as him, this cat made lots of eye contact and meowed a helluva lot when it saw Jac, Nic and myself. It even came up to us when it saw us. There were other people on the walkway that had just passed it but I noticed they didn't get the same reaction. Jac did ask the same question that popped into my mind... "Is this Thomas??" Well, Jac and Nic carried on ahead after a while but with it's constant meowing, I felt really bad about ignoring it. I mean... it looked A LOT like Thomas, kept brushing against my leg, followed me quite a bit (meowing all the way with constant eye contact)... that I kept wondering whether it WAS him. I've really missed him all this time and it really sounded like it was really familiar with me. After all, Thomas used to talk to us a lot when he was with us. When I stooped to pat it, I noticed the tail was crooked (could've been born that way, could've damaged it somehow... hurt by humans, hurt in a fight...) and it didn't have any bolas (could've been doctored, could be a female...). I have to admit... I was really tempted to bring it home with me. Realistically though, with my finances being what it is right now, I don't think I'd be able to look after him anymore. In any case, if it was him (I'm still wondering), then he may already belong to someone. He doesn't have that blue collar he had on him the day he left. After a year, I'd imagine SOMEONE would've taken it off him by now. And if he was a stray, I think he's doing okay. I mean... he's not thin (he's quite stocky, actually) and he didn't look like he's been having a hard life.

If it's him, at least it answers the question that's been coming to mind once in awhile when I think of him. That being..."Is he okay?" If it IS him, then thank goodness he is.