It had been a long day. Seems like every little thing that could go wrong did. Still, I couldn’t deny how excited I was to visit the new magic shop in town. It was supposed to be bigger than any other in the state. They even offered to find familiars for those who needed them. Bruce didn’t seem as excited as I was. “We’re not witches.” His complaint made sense in a way. We had no need of their goods, however I’d heard they welcomed all kinds into their store, whether you were magically inclined or not. Their slogan was “We have something for everyone.”

Bruce drove in silence as we headed for the store. He was still mad about the tiff we’d had earlier. He hadn’t wanted to go. Said he’d much rather spend the day relaxing at home just the two of us. I couldn’t say I blamed him. He worked a demanding job so his down time was important. I just couldn’t stand the thought of another day cooped up at home. Besides, it’s not every day a new place opens in this city. We lived in a decently sized city, but it was a quiet one. I needed something new to break up the monotony of everyday life, and this was the perfect opportunity. 

I looked over at Bruce, who’s eyes were on the road ahead. Quietly, I placed my hand on his thigh and leaned into him. Even if we were a little at odds, I wanted to feel his warmth. He was always a source of comfort for me. I took him in as my head lay on his shoulder. The smell of him relaxed every bit of tension in me. He smelled of cologne and a scent that was uniquely him. It reminded me of when we met.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I thought back to our first meeting. One of my friends had just rented a room at a new apartment so a few of us gathered for games and drinks. Bruce was one of their roommates and had worked late that night. He came in as the night was winding down. Never one to shy away from others, he put on a movie in the living room and settled on the couch. We all kind of gravitated to the living room to join him, and I chose the spot next to him. We hit it off and conversation flowed smoothly. I felt like I could tell him anything. He’d just listen as if I wasn’t talking about the most boring topic known to man. At some point I leaned against him and the rest is history.

That night replayed in my head as we drove in silence. I don’t even remember what we were watching. I just remember him. Even that first night, his presence just felt right. I knew I’d have to apologize for today but I was struggling to bring it up. I made a mental note to also thank him for coming with me. He hadn’t needed to, but he did anyway. He was always looking out for me. Our destination snuck up on me as I realised we were pulling into the parking lot. There in big red letters was the name of the store. It seemed like any other department store. I have to admit I was a little let down. I don’t know what I’d expected of a magic store, but a big plain building wasn’t it. Hopefully the inside offered more interesting sights than the outside.

“We’re here.” He placed his arm around me and pulled me in closer. It was a bit awkward as the seatbelt dug into my shoulder. Still it was the best feeling in the world. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave this moment. I burrowed my cheek further into him eliciting a soft chuckle. “Come on bug. Let’s see what this place is all about.” Bug, his nickname for me. He’d said it was because I was such a snuggle bug. I took one last whiff of him and heaved myself up.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air was an abrupt wake up call. It was only 5pm but the overcast sky made it feel later. Upon entering the large doors, I was struck with how warm and inviting it was inside. It looked like your average book store at first. Rows of shelving displayed books of all sizes and colors. The smell of fresh coffee pulled my attention to a small cafe tucked away in the corner.

“Welcome! Is there anything I can help you find today?” A short woman strode towards us in quick strides. She was smiling from ear to ear in what felt like a genuine smile. I’d seen plenty of customer service smiles over the years, but this wasn’t that. She seemed truly happy to see us.

“Oh no thank you. We’re just here to check out the new store.” I looked past her to see rows upon rows of books. “What do you sell here?” I couldn’t help but ask as it looked like they just sold books.

“We sell information mostly. Though we do sell some tools of the trade towards the back. Our two main pulls in this store are information and connecting witches with familiars. You’ll see some animals roaming the store as you explore the shelves. Down this aisle is a seating area where you can check out a book or spend time with the animals.” She gestured towards the center of the store as if beconning us to follow her. I briefly read some of the titles as we passed each row. Most made little to no sense to me.

The aisles opened up to expose a large seating area. There were low tables and cushioned chairs and more importantly, there were cats and birds. They claimed chairs and cat trees alike. This would be such a lovely place to enjoy a coffee and play with the animals. It was so cozy it made you want to stay. Bruce and I decided to sit with the cats for a while before browsing the rest of the store. “Thank you for showing us around. I think we’ll take our time here for a bit.” My words seemed to make her happy as she smiled again before excusing herself.

Once alone I playfully elbowed Bruce. “Looks like there was something here for you after all.” I couldn’t help but rib him a little as he lit up looking at the cats. A fluffy black cloud of a cat came over and rubbed itself against his legs. He picked it up before taking a seat in one of the cushy chairs.

“Do you mind if I relax here with the cats while you explore a bit?” I knew he would come with me if I asked, but he looked so comfortable with the void he was petting. He had already agreed to a night window shopping even though he was tired. How could I not let him relax with them?

“No worries. You two are simply too cute to disturb.” I looked toward the back of the store where she had said they sold tools and other items. “I’ll just check around the back and then I’ll be back.” He was barely listening as he was focused on a grey cat who jumped on his shoulder. “Looks like you’re a popular man tonight.” With that I headed off to see what kinds of things a witch would need.

Curiosity was building as I neared the back of the store. I was surprised by just how big it was. The front of the store smelled of coffee and baked goods, but back here it smelled floral. Maybe lavender? I couldn’t quite place the smell but it had a soothing effect. There were cabinets and small side tables lined up with an array of cloths draped over them. These must be small alters. I’d heard of them in passing but had never seen one. These were all bare except for the cloth, but I wondered what a fully set up altar might look like. Supposedly it depended greatly on the witch who used it.

Further in I saw various small tabletop statues of what I assumed to be deities. I didn’t recognise any of them, however. There was an array of bowls and plates. Some were simple while others were more ornate. A large shell held up on intertwined sticks caught my attention. The sticker below it said it was abalone. I debated purchasing it. It would look beautiful on the entry table. I didn’t debate for very long as something glimmered in my peripheral. It was a smooth black mirror made of obsidian. I don’t know how much time I’d spent staring into it. I could’ve sworn I saw Bruce’s face and then an orange cat in the reflection.

Feeling slightly dizzy, I decided to head back and join Bruce with the cats. I walked quickly as an uneasy feeling settled over me. It was like a brain fog was coming on. When I saw the chairs, I looked where he had been but he was nowhere to be seen. In his seat was a large orange tabby cat stretching out as it lay on its back. I gave the kitty a brief tummy rub as I scanned the surroundings for Bruce. Maybe he needed the restroom? Or maybe he’d come looking for me. Should I wait here for him to return or should I go looking for him? The warmth of the cat under my hand reminded me of him. I think he would like this cat.

I decided to find him and turned to go look when a wave of dizziness swept over me. Maybe I should sit for a bit before I look for him. He might come back on his own. I picked up the orange cat and held it close to my chest as I waited. He smelled heavenly. I thought back to sitting in the truck out in the parking lot. My head nestled in his shoulder. My favorite place. Then the image of Bruce’s face in the black mirror entered my mind. I watched as it faded and an orange cat came into view. A cat who looked amazingly like the one in my arms. That same feeling of unease tugged at me as I stared hard at the cat. What was it about this cat?

I decided I couldn’t wait anymore. I just wanted to get Bruce and leave. With that thought I set the cat down and headed for the counters at the front of the store. There I saw the same short lady who’d helped us before. She saw me and smiled. “Can you page someone over the intercom for me? I can’t seem to find Bruce. The man I’d come in with.” Looking puzzled she agreed to page him. After she called out and asked him to come to the front of the store, she headed off.

As she left I saw a younger woman who was working the cash register. She looked at me with the saddest expression. Why was she looking at me like that? I decided to ignore her. I waited but he never came. Anxiety was growing inside me. I tried to breathe through it, but that woman was still watching me looking pained. “I’m sorry Ms but he won’t be coming.” I just stared at her, confused.

“What are you talking about?” My voice came out harsher than I’d meant it to. I was clearly getting agitated and I couldn’t think straight.

She ignored me and kept talking. “Ugh this is the worst part of this job. How can they expect me to watch this happen and not react to it?” She seemed to be talking more to herself than to me at this point. I went to leave when she called out to me again. “You need to find him and get out of here.” Her words weren’t registering with me but the earnestness in her voice was. “He’s probably been changed already and If you don’t leave soon, you won’t even remember him.”

My first thought was that she was talking crazy, but then I remembered where we were. This was a magic shop, who knows what kinds of things they could do here. With a quick pace I began searching the aisles. I didn’t want to be prejudiced against witches but that clerk had scared me. Changed? Changed how? I picked up the pace and was practically running at this point. I saw the orange cat round a corner ahead and the black mirror ran through my mind. That cat. It couldn’t be. That was crazy right? Then I remembered the warmth and the smell when I held it. It smelled like Bruce. I hadn’t realized it then, but now it was clear to me.

Breaking into a run, I rounded the same corner. I couldn’t see where it had gone, but I had to find it. It was hard to explain, but I just knew that cat was Bruce. I ran down the aisle hoping I’d see where he’d gone. He wasn’t there. He wasn’t anywhere. I had to stop to catch my breath. Panicking wouldn’t help anyone. What was it the clerk had said? That he had changed. I tried to conjure the image of the cat. I couldn’t let myself forget what he looked like.

As I pictured the orange fur I focused on his markings. I had to make sure I picked up the right one. Once I was sure I had his image held firm in my mind, I set off again. As I walked, I thought of him. He was such a gorgeous cat. His fur reminded me of something. What was it? I couldn’t quite place the memory. I tried to remember but my mind was foggy. Aisle after aisle passed as I searched. I found myself in the sitting area again. The floral smell from before had made its way here as well. The cats seemed to be more awake than before. Some were wrestling while others played with a standing feather toy. They were adorable to watch.

An orange cat caught my attention as he darted under a chair. I giggled at its antics. Something niggled at my brain. Something important. A cold plummeting feeling came over me as I realized I’d forgotten. I’d forgotten Bruce. The clerk’s words rang through my head. “You won’t even remember him.” How could this happen? There was no way I’d forget him. The cat. I lunged for the cat that had just run under a chair. Thankfully I caught him. My joy was short-lived, however. This wasn’t the same cat. This wasn’t my Bruce. I clung desperately to the orange cat I’d caught and tried to remember my Bruce. His face wouldn’t come to me, and his smell. What had he smelled like? A sickening feeling came over me as I realized I couldn’t remember him. A cold sweat broke out across my skin as panic rose in my gut.

The cat wrangled free from my grip. I sat staring at the cats as they played. Would I really not remember him? Would I lose him forever? Would he lose himself? What would happen to him? I couldn’t bring myself to move. The smell of flowers hit me again. It helped soothe my body. I was still panicking inside but my muscles relaxed.

The short woman from before entered the sitting area. She was accompanied by a young couple. “Please have a seat here while I go get your new familiar.” Her voice was as cheerful as ever. They sat on chairs at the other side of the lounge. She leaned into him as they waited. A strange feeling sat in my belly as I watched them. He shot me a quizzical look but said nothing. The short woman returned quickly carrying a gorgeous orange cat. “This here is Bruce, your new familiar.”

The young woman reached out to take him. “Hi Brucey! You wanna come home with us?” Bruce sat purring in her lap. He seemed to really like them. They got up and thanked the woman who’d brought him out. She beamed back at them and wished them a goodnight. I watched curiously as they left.

“Ma’am, we’re about to close.” The short woman turned to me and pointed to her watch. I jolted back to myself.

“I’m so sorry. I was playing with the cats and lost track of time.” I stood up a little lightheaded and headed for the doors. This had been an interesting visit. I had to admit I was anxious to leave.