Submission (#195) Approved

That was supposed to be a fun experience, in fact, it was supposed to be the best entertainment available for a cat like him in a city like Seaworn. He received the letter two weeks after his birthday but it didn’t quite feel like a present, not after what had happened that night. The envelope burned in his paw as a reminder of what happened, a gift he knew he didn’t deserve.

Leonardo got dressed in his newly acquired black vest. He didn’t like it, but it was very similar to the one he wore years ago at the release of his third book, a moment frozen in time that was supposed to represent fame and success, a yearning to go back to that, to run from the consequences of being Leo and just be Leonardo D’angelo: the untouchable famous detective.

But deep down, he knew he would never go back to that. He would never be able to be the hero of his novels again, and the lack of inspiration he had shown since the party was just the amplification of a problem that was rooted in something he could never change. The accident. He changed that day, and not just metaphorically but physically, a guy like him could never be the protagonist of a book. Not anymore. Perhaps a bit of color could brighten his day...