Lychee
Legacy Name: Lychee

Ernest smiled weakly as he remembered his family, and tried to hold back his tears. Lychee looked at him and placed her paw on his hand, and he responded with a weak smile as the sad thoughts faded away. "I saw them there," Ernest continued.

"My lovely daughters running in the grass, dancing with the wind... They were so beautiful and innocent, filled with life! Then I would see most beautiful woman in the world walking up to them, and they would all smile and wave at me...
They are calling for me, Lychee... And soon I shall come to them.

They are all waiting for me."

One early morning, Lychee woke up to sound of thunder. It was pouring outside, and the kitten was scared every time she would hear the thunder. Ernest still isn't awake which seemed strange, as he always woke up earlier than his furry friend. The kitten ran to Ernest's room and was relieved to find him sound asleep. She jumped to the bed and tried and wake him up, but something seemed odd. Ernest would not wake up nor respond to her calls.

She tried to push him, but he would not budge. No matter what the kitten did, there was no response. Then Lychee realized what was going on.

Ernest isn't going to wake up today.

The kitten whimpered as she laid down next to him, placing her head against his hand. She closed her eyes as she went to sleep, hoping to wake up once again and see her friend alive and well... That what she has just seen was nothing but a bad dream.

It wasn't soon until Ernest's neighbors noticed his absence and found him laying lifeless on his bed along with his companion next to him. The whole town came to the farmer's funeral, and then they would leave flowers in his house, as well as an occasional bowl of milk for Lychee.

Ernest has left the house and his garden for James and his family. Every morning James tend to his friend's farm, but he barely entered his friend's house. To him this place still belongs to his beloved friend, and he promised him that he would take care of his precious garden as long as he is still alive.
Lychee was rarely found outside Ernest's house. The first few days after the farmer's death she would look for him inside the house, but he is nowhere to be found. Nowadays, James and the people who pass by the Ernest's house would find the kitten laying on the rocking chair. Every night she would sleep on his bed, dreaming that his beloved owner had come home. The waiting made her lonely, and the fact that she was all alone made her feel worse... But this was all that she could do. She would stay strong until the day Ernest returns.

As months passed, Lychee only grew lonelier. She still hopes and waits for her friend's return, but as time passes by her heart was filled with sorrow. Every single day she would sit in the rocking chair waiting, but waiting was all she did. There were no snacks or treats. There were no one to play games with. There were no stories.

One day, Lychee visited the garden. As she looked at the beautiful trees and plants she remembered the fun times that she and Ernest had. The garden looked the same as it did before; beautiful and filled with life, but it only made her feel worse.

He isn't here.

Just as soon as she was about to leave, Lychee heard a soft crash in the bushes. When she ran to see what it was, she was surprised to see a pair of curious eyes that met hers.

It was a baby bird. She has seen these kinds of birds before, but it's size seemed bigger than normal. It must have been trying to fly, only to crash into the bushes that saved its fall. Lychee approached the bird, trying to see if it would fly or walk away. The little bird did not do any of these things. In fact, it chirped happily and spread its small wings, as if it were trying to reach her.

Lychee smiled. She knew that the helpless creature could not survive if it was left alone. She remembered being in the same situation, as well as the loving person that took her in. The cat has decided to take care of the baby bird herself and dug up worms for it. She named the baby bird "Willow", and the two had been inseparable ever since that encounter.

The afternoons were both their favorite time of the day. They would lay down on the rocking chair and rest after spending the entire morning playing in Ernest's garden, rolling around in the grass and dancing with the wind.
After making sure that Willow is comfortable in her arms, Lychee then closed her eyes and drifted into a peaceful slumber. She dreamt of a beautiful paradise with the juiciest fruits and the finest vegetables, where her loving owner is waiting for her...

I'll pray for your happiness. Always!