This boy came back with a new name after being missing for a year. He's a neighborhood feral who started showing up at my house one day years ago and wanted in to make himself at home. Second or third time he was over he slept right next to me in bed. My cats are unfazed by him once they got past the introduction. They remember him after not seeing him for a year. He's like their dickhead cousin Eddie who stays over every once in a while.

A year ago was the last time I had seen him. Over time I grew to believe he was dead. I texted the number on his new collar and learned a neighbor's daughter picked him up and took him to the city. It didn't work out with her cats so he wound up back at my neighbor's house. Eventually he convinced them to let him out so they gave him a collar with their number on one side and Lucky on the other. I guess it didn't take too long for him to find his way back over here.

I had a chat with them and learned his story. Texting the number on his collar got more answers than asking him "Where have you been?". He has stopped over every day since he reappeared. Last night he came by for a literal midnight snack and headed back out to the world.

His name was Cornelius according neighborhood gossip back then. Lucky is certainly a fitting name. He did come back from the dead and all.