Nona didn''t want to get up. Today, she gave in. She didn''t feel like working or anything. Yesterday''s event was too much. The mob, the screams, the shootings and then that kiss. The kiss was still sealed on her lips, and she couldn''t understand why. She had tried so hard not to feel. Not to care, love or create any friendship. To keep herself from feeling anything at all. Away from everyone. But somehow, there were no barriers strong enough against a thing like this: an unexpected, unlooked-for touch of something sweetly human in such a madhouse world as they lived in now. Despite his strangeness, what triggered Nona the most was how familiar he felt. It seemed almost as if she knew him before, as if they''d met somewhere else long ago, but where? Or when?


    Schrodinger climbed up the bed and put out his soft paws over her hands, and looked down into her face with those deep yellow-golden eyes, which always made it seem to her as though someone would be looking through them at some other place. Someplace beyond time itself.


    His whiskers tickled slightly beneath her fingers. He purred softly and began licking gently at one cheek: ''What wrong, love of my life?''


    ''Nothing. I''m just tired. I guess.'' said Nona. She closed her eyes for a moment and saw it all over again. The angry mob, the destruction around her, the burning buildings, the dead men and women. Especially the women. Then suddenly, she thought about him again, and her cheeks started to burn. She grabbed her pillow and hid her face behind its folds to muffle her scream.


    He licked her chin slowly. ''It''s okay.''


    She pushed back the pillow and looked at him.


    ''It is safe now.''; whispered Schrodinger.


    ''I can''t take it out of my head.''


    ''You should rest. The time event yesterday was a bit too much.''


    ''Why would a stranger kiss another stranger? Makes no sense!''


    ''You talking about the kiss?''


    ''Yes.''


    ''So, it wasn''t a dream?''


    ''I don''t know. I don''t care! I want it out of my head!''


    The cat sat upright and stared at her. Schrodinger didn''t say anything, just purred as the sun rose higher outside their window and lit up his fur in golds and reds. Outside, the city lay still asleep under a cold winter sky. Beyond the wall surrounding them, nothing stirred except birds twittering high above the rooftops.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Eventually, Nona got out of bed. She made coffee and ate some toast, sharing bits with Schrodinger. She noticed she was about to run out of meds as she drank her second cup. She really didn''t want to go out today. Her last trip out had been a nightmare. A very bad nightmare. And yet she did need her medications. There were times when she felt as though she could barely stay awake, even with the help of pills. On other days she felt like she was going crazy as if they didn''t work at all. ''Come on, Nona! You can do this!''; she said to herself.


    She took a shower and dressed quickly. She had decided she wouldn''t bother trying to look presentable because what good does it ever do? If anyone cared anyway, it would only make things worse. Besides, people were already staring at her as it was. Headsets, mask, gloves and prescription folded in her purse. She opened the main door, told Schrodinger she would be quick and went down the building stairs. As she was to open the building''s front door, a young man with hazel eyes and wavy hair was about to open it.


    Nona never saw him. She tried to pass through him, but when she moved left, he moved left, she move right, and he did right too.


    ''Damn, I''m sorry.''; he mumbled, embarrassed.


    She grabbed him by his arms and moved him to the left so she could pass through the right. He walked the stairs after her, smiling. ''Sorry again.''


    ''No problem.''


    Day got to his door and locked his keys in his jacket. While he searched, he heard some noises coming from inside. At first, he ignored it, thinking it must have come from the apartment upstairs. However, when he finally found his key, the noise continued. When Day reached his door, he unlocked it and before he was able to step into his home, he saw a tall man with long messy black hair in his boxers and black shirt. When he looked at Day with his yellow-goldish eye, he panicked.


    ''Who are you?''


    ''When the fuck are you from?''


    Day laughed nervously. ''Well…'', he hesitated.


    He looked around, confused. It was his house, but cleaner. No empty bottles were lying around, no dirty clothes on the floor or garbage bags to take out. The place even smelled good. ''What the fuck.''; he muttered.


    The yellow-eyed man shouted again: ''When are you from?''


    ''What the hell kind of question is that, dude? I live here!''; replied Day.


    The man looked at him and smiled sarcastically. ''Oh yes, I see your name on the lease, the fuck! This isn''t your place!''; he pointed towards the hallway. ''This is mine! Get out!''


    ''Excuse me, who the fuck are you?''; asked Day.


    The man turned to Day and spoke calmly, ''Okay, I see what''s going on.'' He got something out of the dresser down the hall and returned facing Day. A gun which he aimed straight at his forehead. ''Now, will you leave?'' and added: ''Please?''


    For a while, Day stood motionless. Finally, he nodded and closed the door. He was shaking, but this was his home. What was he supposed to do? Call the cops? Last time they did nothing. ''Man up. Day, all your stuff is there!''


    He knocked on the door, and nothing. He placed his ear against the door but couldn''t hear a sound. Day tried to open it, and it was locked. He turned the keys and when it opened, he found all his mess and the strange smell of something rotting in a corner. There was no sign of the man with strange yellow eyes.