Tatiana looks back at her old home through a sliding glass door, where she lived with her guardian Pat, a single woman and a recovering alcoholic.

 

Rescued from a Long Beach shelter, this was a perfect place for Tatiana to live. She was a scaredy cat, never wanting to be around people, just Pat.

 

Many people knew Pat had a cat but never saw her. Tatiana found comfort under the bed or deep in the closet behind clothes.

 

“She would come out when I was alone,” said Pat. For a meal or for a belly rub.

 

Tatiana found solitude in a home where she would never be bothered.

 

Tatiana’s Guardian Had Many of Her Own Issues

 

Tatiana was happy. She had food and a safe place to live. But her guardian was struggling with alcoholism and had many medical issues.

 

Pat would fall and hit her head. A few times, this caused her to go to the hospital to get stitches.

 

One day, Pat fell again. Everything seemed okay after the fall, but it wasn’t.

 

Pat had a shunt in her brain to relieve fluid. This time, her fall caused the shunt to shift and required brain surgery.

 

A week later, Pat passed away, leaving Tatiana behind.

 

Tatiana Found Happiness in a New Home

 

Pat had good neighbors and good friends from her 12 step program. Over the coming weeks, Pat’s belongings were given to charity or to neighbors.

 

Tatiana watched as her home was being transformed. Ultimately, Tatiana would go through another home for several weeks before finding her final home.

 

Windy, a friend from Pat’s 12 step meetings, decided to take Tatiana in. She was very close to Pat.

 

Windy was concerned about whether Tatiana would fit in because she already had a cat. Ultimately, she did.

 

Tatiana has found her place in the universe once again, and hiding all day is much better these days. She now has a new home.