It took a deep breath and a step back to finally connect the dots. I suddenly pictured my cat from the day before, proudly trotting inside after an outdoor adventure with fur full of dry grass, seeds, and tiny plant fragments clinging to him. I had brushed some off, but clearly missed a few.
That morning, while I was drying my hair, the hairdryer’s blast of air must have sent those brittle pieces flying. Some landed directly in the toilet bowl, where the water made them look swollen, pale, and disturbingly alive.
The “worms” were nothing more than soaked bits of dry grass. The terror, the frantic searching, and the wild theories from friends had all been triggered by an ordinary mess that only looked monstrous in the morning light.
