she was gone for 18 days, and this morning...she came back. we had really given up hope for zoe. she's pretty skinny (for zoe), and her head is all scabby and her fur is all dirty and matted. she's even more skittish than ever today. she came in, ate some food, and as you can see, she sat at the door asking to go right back out.

after 18 days AWOL, i didn't let her.

i wish i could ask her where she's been. what did she eat? where did she sleep? did she encounter any scary creatures? did people try to catch her? was she lost?

is she happy to be back home? even just a little bit?

it did make me kind of sad when she came home and then wanted to leave right away again. but today, as she sleeps in a sunbeam on my bed, i have to think she came home for a reason.