The first time I saw her, I couldn’t stop staring. I told them she was absolutely gorgeous, and that’s when they casually asked, “Do you want to adopt her?”

I wanted to say yes so badly—but at the time, my living situation made it impossible.

Fast forward to eight months ago: I finally got my own apartment… and the very next step was bringing her home.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say I became completely smitten.

Here’s the part that still makes me laugh: I was never a “dog person.” I’d never owned a dog. I was always the cat lover. I still am. Honestly, I love all animals—but dogs were always just something I admired from a distance. Like, “Aww, cute,” and then I’d move on. I never thought I’d be someone’s whole world… until this little furball crashed into my life.

She’s ridiculously sweet and unbelievably clingy—right up until she randomly turns into a tiny tornado and sprints through the house like she’s training for the Olympics. One minute she’s glued to me, the next she’s doing zoomies at full speed. I fell in love instantly.

She’s officially my little favorite now. I even gave her a new name, because she used to be called “Kuschel”… but the truth is, nobody ever really called her that.

What shocked me most is how quickly she settled in. She learned her new name, got comfortable in her new home, and bonded with me so fast it felt like she’d been waiting for this all along.

Now she’s attached to me in the best possible way. I can’t even go to the bathroom alone anymore—she follows me like it’s her full-time job. And weirdly? I love it.

It honestly feels like we were meant to find each other. Like she chose me. And I’m completely in love with her.

This connection is different from anything I’ve felt with a pet before. In the past, the animals in my life were chosen by my family. I loved them deeply—but none of them ever “picked” me the way Cleo did.

What we have feels rare. Special. Real. I can’t imagine my life without her now.

She sleeps next to me at night. We have these ridiculous little “conversations” (her with her tongue, me with mine). She brings me her toys when she wants us to play. And every time I come home, she’s right there—like she’s been counting the minutes.

Without her, I’d feel so lonely. She’s my little girl.