Proof #1: A look that pierces your soul.
He doesn't just stare. He drills. Especially when I eat. It's not the look of a hungry dog. It's the look of an ancient deity demanding a sacrifice in the form of a piece of cheese. And you know what? I give it. Every time. He hypnotizes me. He knows all my weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the fluffy area of ​​my belly (which, by the way, is also a trap).

Proof #2: A master of psychological warfare.
He ALWAYS lies down right in the middle of the hallway when I'm in a hurry. Not on the edge, but right where I have to step, balancing a mug of coffee. He does it on purpose. It's a loyalty test: "Let's see if you'd rather follow your morning ritual or avoid stepping on my paw." I always choose his paw. He wins. And grins contentedly in his sleep.

Proof #3: Control over space and time.
6:30 AM. The sun hasn't even thought about rising. But he sits by the bed and makes a sound somewhere between the sigh of a soul stuck in purgatory and the quiet whine of an abandoned puppy. If that doesn't work, he starts methodically licking his nose. MY ENTIRE NOSE. It's torture. I get up. He immediately climbs into my warm spot and falls asleep happily. His mission is accomplished.

Proof #4: Demonic cuteness. After he's ripped apart my favorite pillow, put my slipper on, and turned the trash can into an art installation in the kitchen, he comes. He sits down. He bows his head. His ears turn into antennae of universal sadness, and his eyes into two vast oceans of innocence. And that's it. I melt. I can't stay angry. He knows the power of his weapon and uses it mercilessly.

But here's the rub. This furry demon protects me from bad dreams, snuggling close to me. He rejoices when I come, as if I've just returned from a round-the-world voyage and not from the corner store. His cold nose is the best cure for any sadness.

So I give in. I am his servant, his cook, his masseur, and his cleaner. He is my little tyrant, my furry obsession, my demon, whom I love madly.

He sold me his soul. And I don't regret it one bit. Because in exchange I got everything: unconditional love, eternal chaos, and the motivation to never leave cookies on the table.