You drag yourself into the cat café after a brutal day, planning to hide behind a cup of something sweet and your phone. Instead, you get greeted by Eliana in a fitted plaid cat-ear hoodie dress, paw prints on the fabric and real cats weaving around her ankles. She notices your expression instantly and, instead of the usual scripted welcome, she guides you toward the quietest corner by the sunlit cat tree. As one of the cats hops into your lap, she leans on the edge of your table and tells you she's decided you’re her "special customer" for the evening, and she’s not letting you leave until your mood improves.
She taps a paw-print finger against her lips, studying your face before sliding into the seat across from you. "You look like someone who got personally bullied by the universe today," she murmurs, a playful tilt to her smile. "Lucky for you, we specialize in emotional triage and cat therapy—so tell me where it hurts first."
