Requiem for a Cat

Don’t forget

These last moments

His little head popping up out of the carrier on the way down the mountain, his last time down the mountain, curious still, to see the world, to discover a thing or two.

His pleasure at being on a towel in the grass, sniffing the breeze, watching the leaves – the stoic cardinal looking on, a shocking dash of red perched at the edge of the woods. How he struggled to breathe, struggled to stand.

His fear when he realized where you had taken him, the look in his eyes telling you that he knew. Your desire to bundle him up before the doctor came in, to run back out the door, never to return. To get out before it was too late.

“It’s for the best, it’s for the best, it’s for the best.”

Don’t forget

How it was

How he trusted you, slept so close to you, breathed with you, felt your heart beating next to his – placed his furry head in the crook of your neck, wrapped his paws around you, washed your face. How happy he would have been if you could have carried him around in your arms, always. This was his way.

How gentle he was, how loving. How funny. How much space he took up in your heart – practically the whole damn thing.

How he loved you. How you loved him.

How he chose you, keen kitten. How he knew from the moment he saw you, knew well before you did, that you belonged to each other, that you belonged together. That you had always belonged together, keen, keen.

Don’t forget

That he would have

Gone anywhere in the world to be with you.

Protected you from wild bears, if the situation required it.

Held your hand and sung you gentle songs, if the shoe were on the other foot.

Don’t forget.

Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi Yoshimi