Jasmine had always been a little different. While her friends were out at the park with their dogs or playing with their cats, Jasmine found her best friend in an unlikely place—inside a small cage, nestled in the corner of her room. Frankie, her pet rat, was a quiet companion, but there was something about him that made Jasmine feel less alone.
Frankie was no ordinary rat. He had soft gray fur, small, intelligent eyes that always seemed to be thinking, and a gentle nature that made him the perfect match for Jasmine. He had been with her since she was twelve, a gift from her older brother on her birthday. It started as just another pet, but over time, Frankie became more. He was the listener when Jasmine needed to vent, the little spark of joy on tough days, and the one who never judged when life felt overwhelming.
On one particular evening, as rain gently tapped against the windows, Jasmine sat on her bed, staring at her school books but unable to focus. There had been so much on her mind lately—school, friendships, her future. She felt like a pressure cooker, and the weight of it all was starting to crack her focus.
Frankie, sensing her unease, climbed up the side of his cage and pressed his tiny paws against the bars, his eyes watching her with curiosity. Jasmine couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “What is it, Frankie?” she whispered.
He let out a soft squeak, as if urging her to do something. She opened the cage door and gently scooped him up, his tiny body fitting perfectly in her hands. His soft fur, the familiar warmth, grounded her. She let out a deep breath, feeling a little lighter.
“Do you ever feel like everything’s too much?” she asked, speaking more to herself than to Frankie. He didn’t answer, of course, but his eyes held that same quiet understanding.
Jasmine stood and walked over to the window, holding Frankie in her hands. The rain outside had picked up, falling in sheets against the glass. It was a dark night, but there was something soothing about the steady rhythm of the storm. She thought about how life felt like that sometimes—a storm, unpredictable and wild—but also cleansing, in its own way.
Frankie wiggled a bit in her hands, drawing her attention back to him. He nudged her cheek, as if offering comfort. Jasmine chuckled softly, wiping away a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek. She had always admired how Frankie, small and seemingly insignificant, carried on with such grace. He didn’t let the storms of life shake him.
“You’re right,” Jasmine said, more to herself than to Frankie. “It’s just one storm at a time, huh?”
With Frankie nestled safely in her palm, she sat down by the window, watching the rain wash away the world outside. Her mind felt clearer. She wasn’t sure how things would turn out—how school, her friends, or her future would unfold—but she knew she wasn’t alone. Frankie was there, quietly, faithfully by her side.
The rain didn’t seem so harsh anymore. The world, for a moment, felt still. And for the first time in a long while, Jasmine felt ready to face the storm.