Every day during this February cold spell

with its plunge below zero every night,

I am a sun seeker in the middle of the day

I curl up on the little couch with a book,

my feet catching the rays of the winter sun,

hoping that Shadow will join me,

her blue-gray fur a far more effective sun catcher

than my bare skin or hoodie.

I sink into the combined heat of the sun

and a yellow-eyed being.

Our breath and hearts attune.

she stretches out her paw to locate my face

softly, considerately. She tickles me awake

with her whiskers, snuggles in for another snooze

or jumps off the couch to see if by some miracle

her food bowl is full again.