Now, I’ve always been a soft touch for animals. But this was different. There was a palpable urgency in her gaze, a silent plea that tugged at my heartstrings. She meowed, a raspy sound, and then nuzzled her head against the windshield, as if trying to point me in a certain direction.

I cautiously put down my coffee and approached her. “Hey, there, girl,” I murmured, offering a tentative hand. She sniffed it cautiously, then leaned in for a scratch. The moment I touched her, she seemed to relax, purring like a tiny motor.