It began as a perfectly ordinary morning. Coffee in hand, I headed toward my car, ready to start the day. But something unusual caught my eye beneath the vehicle — a shadow that moved when the breeze didn’t. My curiosity turned to concern as I crouched down, expecting to find a stray cat or maybe a bundle of leaves. Instead, two dark eyes blinked back at me, and I realized this was something alive — and much larger than I expected.
At first glance, it looked like a lizard, but as it shifted, my breath caught. Beneath my car was a small alligator, scales glistening in the early sunlight. I froze, torn between fear and fascination. Children were nearby waiting for the school bus, and neighbors walked their dogs just a few steps away. Quickly, I called animal control and kept everyone back. When the creature began to move, I noticed something heartbreaking — it was limping, clearly injured, and trying to hide rather than harm.
