A man sat at the edge of his bed, his room dimly lit, the shadows dancing on the walls. His face was buried in his hands as tears streaked down his cheeks, each one a testament to the heartache weighing heavily on him. He wiped his tears away, fighting to regain some composure, before placing his palms together to make a wish. The room filled with a flash of ethereal light. Suddenly, he found himself floating in the vast expanse of space. The galaxy, with its myriad of stars and celestial wonders, left him in awe.

A muffled sound broke through his reverie, growing louder as it approached. He spun around, fear tightening in his chest. The sound grew closer, more distinct, until something nudged his legs. He looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief. An orange cat with tiger stripes sat by his feet, gazing up at him with familiar hazel eyes.

"Thomas?" he whispered, his voice trembling. Overwhelmed with emotion, he bent down and scooped up his beloved pet, holding him close. Thomas was no longer the frail, sickly cat he remembered. He was healthy, his orange fur vibrant, his little tail flicking joyfully. "You look so good, buddy. It looks like you’ve been eating well...and you’re moving again. You look so alive."

Thomas gazed up at him with those deep hazel eyes and let out a soft "meow," reaching his paws towards his father's face. In that meow, and the way Thomas looked at him, the man sensed this wasn’t a reunion meant to last. Embracing his fur child tightly, the man whimpered as fresh tears streamed down his cheeks. "I wish I could’ve done more. I'll always love you, son. You’ll never be forgotten or replaced."

Thomas meowed again, the sound echoing with the same cadence as it had the day he left this world. It was as if he was telling his dad that everything was alright, that he understood. The man felt a force pulling Thomas from his arms. He knew their time was up. Desperately, he clung to Thomas, his voice breaking, "I love you so much."

Thomas, unable to stay, swiped his father’s hand, the same way he had scratched it all those years ago, making the man release him. As Thomas's form began to dissipate, he let out one last, "Meow." The man held his hand to his heart, bidding his fur child farewell. Suddenly, he was back in his room, on the bed, staring at the ceiling, still clutching his hand. He crumpled to the floor, examining the scar. Even in his final moments with his fur child, he knew he would always have this constant reminder that would never fade.