Kathrin's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Kathrin pressed her nose against the frosted window of the empty shop. Her breath fogged the glass as she imagined cats curling on velvet cushions and customers sipping warm drinks. She wanted to run a cat cafe right here in the town square. The space sat dark and cold now, but she could see it all—whiskers twitching, tails swishing, purrs mixing with laughter. Her fingers traced the outline of the FOR LEASE sign. This was the place. This was where her dream would start. She stepped back and pulled a crumpled notebook from her coat pocket. Her pencil scratched across the page as she drew the wooden frame, the large windows, the door. Cats would lounge in those windows where everyone could see them. People would stop on their way through the square and press their faces to the glass. Inside, customers would sit at small tables with warm mugs while cats wove between chair legs. The building already had the right shape—it just needed her to bring it to life. She tucked the notebook away and pulled out her phone. Her thumb hovered over the number on the lease sign. This was real now. She pressed call and waited, her heart pounding in her chest. When a voice answered, she took a breath and said she wanted to see the space. The charming cat cafe she'd been dreaming about was one step closer.