This is a sweet story about being irreplaceable and the chaos of change. I thought your story was incredibly heartwarming and gave me some Studio Ghibli vibes, especially with the talking cat. The story overall is one that is relatable, because people you know can change and meet someone new, and honestly that’s a fact of life. Your story describes those feelings of neglect very well, especially as the story is character-focused. The dialogue feels natural at most parts, particularly the conversation between Thomas and Sam. I was honestly expecting the story to focus on the relationship between Thomas and Matthias, so seeing the story go in a different direction was also really satisfying to me. I do have a few comments though. Why did Thomas have to get amnesia? I understand that overall it’s a source of connection between him and Sam, but I feel like having Thomas enter into the apartment with no form of ID just raises more questions than answers. Thomas can still feel like he isn’t getting things right with his sister and nieces even when he doesn’t have amnesia, and honestly I think that would be a little more provoking to see a character who seems to be kind-hearted and level-headed struggle with supporting his family. I think if you go with that route, then Matthias and Thomas could meet through work or someplace else and the end result would be the same. Also, I had some questions about why Sam could talk, which doesn’t necessarily have to be answered, but I think that maybe if you put some background to Matthias and Sam it would clear some stuff up. What does Matthias do? How did he get Sam? etc. Overall, you’ve done a great job with your story!