Your story makes me think of my sister-in-law's beloved Miss Sofi - http://CatoftheDay.com/archive/2000/December/06.html - she was very shy and withdrawn from being at the shelter so long just because she was a black cat and hard to see in the shadows, but she became just the most spoiled loved - and still is Diva kitty, never loud, but always gets her way.

Maybe a kitty like her would be right for you to bring home to love?

(No Sofi, I understand, there is no other kitty like you, I know ...)