Mira was just a tiny black kitten trying to survive the noise and danger of the city, carrying a plastic drink top stuck tightly around her neck. Each day it pressed closer as her body grew, making it harder to breathe, harder to run, harder to feel safe. She hid wherever she could, frightened and confused, never understanding why the pain would not stop.
She did not trust people, and she fought with all her strength when they tried to help her. Fear had taught her to expect the worst, and her little heart raced every time hands came near. The streets had already been so unkind.
What no one could see was how badly she wanted relief, warmth, and a place where she could finally rest without fear.