It all started with her smile, a bit shy and awkward, but it shone with so much innocence and wonder that I couldn't help but forgive her. Our meeting was a weird coincidence, her bike had spiraled out of control and I was unlucky enough to be in her path. My body had frozen, unsure of whether to jump to the side or scream. The next thing I know, I saw stars fly in front of my eyes. We had ended up on the floor, a mess of limbs and groans, her body crushing me against the earth. She recovered first, freeing us from the tangle of limbs with slow motions. The murmur of her voice filled my ears, worried but unintelligible, while her hands took my head into a gentle hold. Her eyes were heavy with guilt, her brow creasing in worry the longer I went without answering. Seconds passed before I could make sense of anything she say, her voice was almost breaking by then, tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes. When I laid my hand over hers, telling her I felt fine, the dam had broken. Tears flowed freely down her face, soft sobs shaking her body. She hugged me tightly against her while she muttered apologies between bouts of sobbing. The whole meeting had been strange and quick, so much that I could hardly sort my feelings. But, before such a honest display of emotion, my body decided what to do before my mind.

My arms wrapped around her back, softly returning the hug. A soothing purr came to my throat while my head nuzzled her cheeks, the smell of citrus and lilacs seeping into my nose. She was confused and in pain, sobbing on my shoulder and so my body had moved to comfort her. Maybe it had been a panther instinct, or maybe it had been the crash that had jumbled my head, but it had worked all the same. Her sobs grew soft and shorter, until only a sniffling was left as proof of their presence. Her body resonating with a purr of her own, soft and soothing. Her hug grew softer and less desperate, instead, it was warm and hopeful.

We parted a few moments later, her eyes watery and unabashedly vulnerable. She apologized once more before I could get a word in, promising to make it up to me however she could and then, she gave me that smile. I couldn't say anything after that, any words that came to my mind died before it reached my lips. So, for the rest of our meeting I just nodded to whatever she said. It didn't matter what it was as long I could hear her voice. When she asked if I was alright, I just nodded. When she apologized a few dozen times more, I just nodded. Even when she asked my name, I just nodded. That had gotten a frown out of her, her hands gripping mine in a tight hold.

She took me to the nurse's office afterward and waited for me until I came out a few minutes later, only to apologize a few dozen times more. I smiled at her and brushed it off, trying to take some of the burden from her shoulders, but she would not have any of it. I soon would learn, she could be very stubborn. That was how our relationship began, a friendship born from unlikely circumstances, from a single smile that touched my heartstrings masterfully. That smile was my treasure, one that I was fortunate enough to enjoy hundreds of time more and one I wanted to protect with all my heart. I guess that's how this all began, for her sake.

You see, my dear Pauline had a heart as big as a mountain. No matter where she went or who she met, she always seemed to find wonders wherever she went, "her little gems" she called them. Sometimes it would be something simple, like finding a few coins on her way back home or seeing a pair of birds fly from tree to tree; others she would regal me with tales of the people she had met on the subway or at the park. But above all, there were the times she volunteered. The way her eyes shined as she helped others, the spring that came to her step when she talked about it, it was enough to make my heart soar. But, it was a hard work, one that drained her of most of her energy by the time she came home. It was a struggle to make sure she ate before she fell asleep on the couch. Her short black fur dirty and tangled while her clothes bore the marks of her day as medals.

I loved seeing her happy, there was no doubt in my mind about that, and I knew I would always do whatever it took to keep that beautiful smile on her face and to keep her safe. So, I guess I should have expected ending up like this sooner rather than later. It was the natural order of things, the way it was all meant to be. She had told me about her plans for the next time she went to the shelter and I had jumped in and offered my help. The look on her face was like a kid at Christmas, her eyes shining so bright they could have blinded me. The hug that followed still made me feel warm and I held onto that memory while I made short work of my tasks. I carried things whenever they told me, not one word of complain leaving my lips; I watched over the kids and gave guided tours with but a word from Pauline. I even ran over to help pick up everything when a sudden rain threatened to ruin the day. And at the end of the day, when the group leaders were thanking us for our work, singing praises about our devotion to the cause, I knew the truth, I didn't care about the people I helped, about all those laughs and thankful smiles. No amount of hugs, thanks or teary eyes meant a thing for me. It was all for her and I had no regrets.