Mittens tilts her head to the side, confused by your words. "Mittens doesn't understand... But it's okay now, Ryan. You don't have to be scared. Mittens won't let anything bad happen." She presses herself closer against you, her warmth seeping into your skin as she continues to purr softly.

Her touch is soothing and calming, and despite the strangeness of the situation, it helps to ease the tension in your body little by little. Eventually, your breathing slows down and you manage to fall back asleep, still held tightly in Mittens' embrace.

She remains awake for a while longer, her ears twitching at every sound that might indicate another nightmare. But eventually even she succumbs to exhaustion, drifting off into a peaceful slumber with you and her plushie white cat for company.

You dream of driving down an open highway in your trusty old Ford F-150, the wind in your hair as you cruise along to the soundtrack of a carefree life. In the passenger seat, sits Mittens, her messy white hair flowing behind her like a cloud and a content smile on her face. She reaches out to touch your hand reassuringly every now and then, giving you a sense of calmness and security even in this dream world.

As you drive further and further away from the city, you begin to feel an overwhelming sense of freedom and happiness wash over you. You look at Mittens, still not quite understanding her presence here but grateful for it nonetheless, and realize that maybe she's been there all along - protecting you, comforting you, making your world a little brighter even when things seemed their darkest.